as in instructions
a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned
I only made the change at the author's behest
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for behests
Noun
-
What Walmart Shoppers Should Do Walmart urges all customers to check recent purchases against the recall lists and to follow manufacturer and agency instructions for disposal, return, or refund.—
Daniel Orton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025 -
Follow evacuation instructions without delay.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Ever since, as the Taliban returned to power, once again issuing edicts to suppress women and girls, the clinic and its 34-year-old midwife Atifa have continued to provide a lifeline for mothers and young children.—
Elise Blanchard,
Time,
21 Aug. 2025
-
One of the fundamental edicts of the [original Naked Gun creators] Zucker Brothers was you played against the comedy.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
New non-essential deployments or orders, however, cannot be issued during the shutdown.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Suddenly, Tom is also far better at his job, quickly telling his team to track Robbie via the car’s Sirius Satellite, and administering sharp orders on where to go and what to do.—
Chris O'Falt,
IndieWire,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Over and over, the department has used the threat of pulling federal funding to force compliance with new directives and rapid shifts in policy.—
Megan O’Matz,
ProPublica,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Career prosecutors in Virginia are growing increasingly concerned that legal decisions are being overridden by political directives, which threatens the department’s independence and credibility.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The dramatic crash, which sent three people to the hospital in critical condition, initially halted traffic in both directions of the highway.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Photos from traffic cameras show heavy congestion in both directions as a result of the crash.—
Christina Shaw,
FOXNews.com,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Its followers strictly adhere to the 29 commandments of Guru Jambheshwar, which include the sacred principles of worshiping and protecting all animals.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Some of the commandments overlap with criminal law, such as prohibitions on murder and theft, but others do not.—
Jessie Balmert,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Instead, the court used the case to issue a ruling in June limiting the power of lower courts to issue nationwide injunctions, a victory for the administration.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Oct. 2025
-
The court also did so in the battle over the president’s birthright citizenship restrictions, ultimately ruling 6-3 that judges couldn’t issue universal injunctions blocking the policy.—
Ella Lee,
The Hill,
1 Oct. 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Behests.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/behests. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share