behaves

present tense third-person singular of behave
as in carries
to manage the actions of (oneself) in a particular way if the children behave themselves properly and sit quietly during church, they'll get their ice cream afterward

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of behaves However, at the atomic scale, gold behaves in ways that are far more valuable to science than to fashion. Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2025 In dog stories, a dog gives unbounded love and is the best possible friend and behaves heroically—and then the dog dies. Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2025 Then, of course, there is the cognitive dissonance that arises when one behaves unethically, leading them to strive for alternative explanations for their actions, creating a feedback loop where unethical behavior goes unchecked. Lindsay Kohler, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025 Punctum’s light, however, behaves like a never-ending set of waves hitting the shore, and never losing formation. New Atlas, 29 Aug. 2025 This subtle bait and switch from a national identity crisis to a personal identity crisis is imaginative and, for a time, intriguing, with Gadebois doing some very heavy lifting as the bad guy that means well but, nevertheless, behaves appallingly. Damon Wise, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025 Dating or being in a relationship with someone who behaves this way could result in a lot of pain, anger and frustration. Gili Malinsky, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2025 That means to model a steam world, researchers have to consider how water behaves as pure steam, and in extreme states like as a supercritical fluid and as superionic ice. Robert Lea, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2025 Part of the realism comes from the models’ ability to predict the movement of the physical world, including the way light reflects off objects and how water behaves. Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for behaves
Verb
  • In addition to Riley’s output, Gaines had 98 yards on 14 carries, and Sherrod had 42 yards on just seven rushes.
    Jim Keyser, Idaho Statesman, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Keondre Dixon ran for a pair of scores and had a team-high 13 carries.
    Cody Thorn, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • To fit all listening scenarios, like all DALI loudspeakers, KUPID also acquits itself at low and high volumes.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • SpaceX conducts many of its own rocket launches, most using the Falcon 9 rocket, from California and Florida.
    Eric Lagatta, AZCentral.com, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Following compilation, our expert panel of distinguished cloud industry veterans conducts the evaluation and ranking process, with these leaders also empowered to suggest additional companies for consideration.
    Bessemer Venture Partners, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Canales likely doesn’t want to cause an issue, especially this early in the season, by mandating how the defensive play-caller handles his various rotations and depth chart.
    Mike Kaye September 10, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Serafina handles supervision and discipline in the brothel, while Arcángela manages finances and connections with local officials.
    Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Genji visits these woods before his exile to Suma and composes a poem wishing that the forest might one day see the injustice against him reversed.
    Lauren Groff, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • An 1878 law known as the Posse Comitatus Act generally restrains the use of the military for such purposes.
    Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2025
  • In the footage, a Border Patrol agent is shown holding one man with his forearm across a man’s neck – and later, an FHP officer restrains the man who is tased, grabbing him around the neck area while the man is doubled down.
    Syra Ortiz-Blanes, Miami Herald, 9 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Eggplant also contains small amounts of vitamins C, K and B6.
    Bethany Thayer, Freep.com, 6 Sep. 2025
  • This article contains spoilers for Splitsville.
    Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Behaves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/behaves. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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