Definition of comportnext

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb comport differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of comport are acquit, behave, conduct, and deport. While all these words mean "to act or to cause oneself to do something in a certain way," comport suggests conduct measured by what is expected or required of one in a certain class or position.

comported themselves as gentlemen

When might acquit be a better fit than comport?

The meanings of acquit and comport largely overlap; however, acquit applies to action under stress that deserves praise or meets expectations.

acquitted herself well in her first assignment

When could behave be used to replace comport?

The words behave and comport are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, behave may apply to the meeting of a standard of what is proper or decorous.

the children behaved in church

When would conduct be a good substitute for comport?

The synonyms conduct and comport are sometimes interchangeable, but conduct implies action or behavior that shows the extent of one's power to control or direct oneself.

conducted herself with unfailing good humor

When can deport be used instead of comport?

While the synonyms deport and comport are close in meaning, deport implies behaving so as to show how far one conforms to conventional rules of discipline or propriety.

the hero deported himself in accord with the code of chivalry

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 comport The film tells the true and twisted tale of a deceiver of land and folk, who, defying her birth as a woman, comported herself as a man and committed many a wicked deed. Leo Barraclough, Variety, 20 Jan. 2026 The pair hosted a series of joint practices over the years and Payton always thought highly of how Belichick’s teams comported themselves. Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 4 Dec. 2025 On Friday, the Heat coach returned to his sanctuary -- the Kaseya Center court -- and comported himself in a way that left his players inspired. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 8 Nov. 2025 Moura remembers how his grandfather and his father comported themselves. Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for comport
Recent Examples of Synonyms for comport
Verb
  • On Tuesday, the Cardinals optioned right-hander Hunter Dobbins to Triple-A immediately after a harsh outing against the Chicago Cubs, a move that corresponded with the addition of a new reliever.
    Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • In a corresponding move, the Royals recalled outfielder John Rave from Triple-A Omaha.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 29 July 2026
Verb
  • But with its home entertainment release, McKenzie feels like major corporations are behaving as if his movie is too hot to touch.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The Odyssey and the Gospels share a plot device in which both Odysseus and Jesus behave like undercover agents.
    John Blake, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • On Saturday morning, which coincided with Vroman’s summer sale, three separate registers had briskly moving lines of 15-20 people or more around the store.
    Erik Pedersen, Daily News, 28 July 2026
  • That appearance by Pirlo coincided with Russia launching a hypersonic ballistic missile attack on Kyiv as part of the invasion of Ukraine launched by Vladimir Putin in February 2022.
    James Horncastle, New York Times, 28 July 2026
Verb
  • That was part of his wider goal of sending endless waves of bomb-carrying drones and robots to hit Russian encampments in a bid to sharply reduce Ukraine’s casualties.
    Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • The port of entry handled $126 billion in trade carried by commercial trucks in 2023, Reuters reported.
    Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 22 July 2026
Verb
  • These include completing the Critical Design Review (CDR) by the end of 2026, which will establish the certifiable design baseline for the aircraft and enable the production and testing of certification-conforming models.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 18 July 2026
  • Pressure on talent to aesthetically conform used to arise quietly, behind the scenes, from agents, managers and others within the system.
    James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2026
Verb
  • Hatfield went to trial for his involvement in the shoot-out and was acquitted in March 1921 by a jury.
    Elijah TanAll, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026
  • While Clinton was impeached by the house, he was acquitted of perjury and obstruction of justice charges.
    Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 28 July 2026
Verb
  • According to a 2022 Pew Charitable Trusts survey, one in five home borrowers surveyed had pursued alternative financing at least once, evidence of a growing population whose financial lives don't fit into legacy underwriting boxes.
    Efri Argaman, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • Denim was the order of the day for Wilde, who sported Prada’s white, low-rise jeans with a slim-fitting silhouette.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 29 July 2026
Verb
  • The ongoing sagas of Getz and Hoyer, two executives who got their jobs the old-school Chicago way — with no bothersome hiring searches conducted by their bosses — are ones that continue to fascinate me.
    Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 2026
  • And so these interviews, that these asylum officers conduct, gives the applicant a place to explain those and talk through them in, again, that non-adversarial environment.
    Dana Taylor, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Comport.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/comport. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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