BEHEST Synonyms: 35 Similar and Opposite Words

behest

noun

bi-ˈhest

Definition of behest

as in edict

a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned I only made the change at the author's behest

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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 behest An internal company memo from around the time of the recovery mission — also obtained by CNBC — indicates Coupang coordinated the computer recovery at the behest of a high-ranking national security officer from the South Korean president’s office. — Justin Papp, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026 The first time Jacobs went to rehab for heroin and cocaine addiction was at the behest of Duffy in 1999. — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 18 Aug. 2026 John, a bit older and wiser, returns to Rushville at the behest of Sheriff Kerry (Kelly Macdonald), the local authority who assisted them in that 2016 case. — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Aug. 2026 Walker made the 90-degree turn to lead a talent management firm active in content development came at the behest of his longtime friend Laurene Powell Jobs, whose Emerson Collective owns Anonymous Content. — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for behest

Recent Examples of Synonyms for behest

Noun

The film by and large follows the edicts of Iranian neorealism, with unobtrusive observations and a naturalistic soundscape.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026
Last week, OutKick explained how Magnus undermined his own edict and vision by hiring back Stan Verrett to host a throwaway show on NFL Network.

— Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of edict

Noun

The order applies in the Central District of California, which includes Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2026
Separately, the administration deported an Afghan man to the Central African Republic despite a prior judicial protection order over fears his family could face Taliban retaliation.

— Adrian Elimian, semafor.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of order

Noun

Our study takes only a tiny step – but still a step – in that direction, helping to nail down the mechanism of exotic superconductivity in graphene.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026
The Florida Department of Transportation website notes that at least one lane in each direction will remain open at all times.

— Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of direction

Noun

Anthropic has already experienced such treatment, getting blacklisted by the Department of Defense earlier this year, and then in June being ordered by the government to disable access to two models to comply with an export control directive.

— Lora Kolodny,Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026
Following the unveiling of the already impressive prototype in 2017, the storied CEO is said to have given Tesla engineers a directive that the car had to be able to fly, delaying its production by years.

— Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of directive

Noun

Wright and Harris are among about 20 former college athletes granted a temporary injunction by a Louisiana judge Thursday night.

— Ralph D. Russo, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2026
On Thursday, plaintiffs were granted a preliminary injunction by Judge William Jorden of the 19th District Court of Louisiana that allows them to be rostered by different schools for the upcoming season.

— Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of injunction

Browse Nearby Words

behemoths

behest

behests

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“Behest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/behest. Accessed 18 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of behest

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