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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of behest
Once again, at the behest of the Transport Workers Union, state lawmakers are wrongly getting into the business of telling the MTA how to staff its subway trains.
—
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
The industry was at risk of collapsing—until the physical chemist Fritz Haber, at the behest of the German Supreme Command, managed to take a common by-product of dye manufacture and weaponize it.
—Literary Hub, 2 Apr. 2026
To hear the critics’ version of events, an unprovoked and unnecessary attack on Iran, launched at Israel’s behest, is already a foreign-policy fiasco that has put the global economy at risk without any clear objective or endgame.
—Bret Stephens, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
Because liberal politicians, at the behest of big insurers, designed it that way.
—Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for behest
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
The industry was at risk of collapsing—until the physical chemist Fritz Haber, at the behest of the German Supreme Command, managed to take a common by-product of dye manufacture and weaponize it.
—Literary Hub, 2 Apr. 2026
To hear the critics’ version of events, an unprovoked and unnecessary attack on Iran, launched at Israel’s behest, is already a foreign-policy fiasco that has put the global economy at risk without any clear objective or endgame.
—Bret Stephens, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
Because liberal politicians, at the behest of big insurers, designed it that way.
—Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for behest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for behest
Noun
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But that edict died with him, Vaez said.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
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Like most of her peers, Agnes follows her country’s various repressive edicts directed toward young women.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The team also gave Luna a series of initial instructions, including pre-launch priorities like hiring an employee to run the store’s day-to-day operations, deciding what the store should sell and ordering inventory.—
David Ingram,
NBC news,
11 Apr. 2026
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Instead, what the court addressed was a single jury instruction, charting several paths forward — including fixing that instruction and trying the case again.—
Alex Crippen,
CNBC,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Much of his business relies on delivery orders, and the restaurant remains open seven days a week.—
Kenny Choi,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
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Court documents indicate that Nancy had filed for a restraining order in both 1998 and 1999.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Previously unproven players like Neemias Queta, Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, Luka Garza and rookie Hugo Gonzalez all enjoyed career years under Mazzulla’s direction.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
20 Apr. 2026
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People are different; their experiences might have little overlap; their values pull in competing directions.—
Nikhil Krishnan,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In an effort to provide more neutral lighting color, the city engineer issued a directive last year changing the City’s standard streetlight color to 3000 Kelvin Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) — a softer white streetlight color compared to the former 4000 Kelvin CCT, adopted in 2017.—
Maura Fox,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Apr. 2026
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Afterward, Moore issued three directives clarifying that state and local agencies may still cooperate with ICE on criminal matters and immigration detainers.—
Jeff Barker,
Baltimore Sun,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In a decision late Friday, the panel granted an administrative stay of an earlier injunction blocking above-ground construction of the White House ballroom.—
Steven Portnoy,
ABC News,
18 Apr. 2026
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The case remains ongoing, with a preliminary injunction hearing scheduled for September.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Behest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/behest. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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