conduct 1 of 2

1
2
as in to direct
to cause to move to a central point or along a restricted pathway the gutter conducts water to the curb, thus protecting the house's basement

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4
as in to steer
to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front a job conducting tourists through the historical museum

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5

conduct

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word conduct distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of conduct are control, direct, and manage. While all these words mean "to use one's powers to lead, guide, or dominate," conduct implies taking responsibility for the acts and achievements of a group.

conducted negotiations

In what contexts can control take the place of conduct?

The meanings of control and conduct largely overlap; however, control implies a regulating or restraining in order to keep within bounds or on a course.

controlling his appetite

When might direct be a better fit than conduct?

While in some cases nearly identical to conduct, direct implies constant guiding and regulating so as to achieve smooth operation.

directs the store's day-to-day business

When can manage be used instead of conduct?

The words manage and conduct can be used in similar contexts, but manage implies direct handling and manipulating or maneuvering toward a desired result.

manages a meat market

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 conduct
Verb
The arrests came months after a federal judge ruled that the U.S. Border Patrol could not conduct warrantless immigration stops in Central California. Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 19 July 2025 Voters didn’t grant the supervisors authority to conduct star chamber proceedings hidden from public view. Mercury News Editorial, Mercury News, 19 July 2025
Noun
The royal family’s official website explains that there are no strict codes of conduct for meeting royals, only suggested traditional courtesies. Janine Henni, People.com, 8 July 2025 Allegations involving Thompson were made with the Newport Beach Police Department and the California Medical Board more than a year before his arrest, the master complaint says, and the lawsuit alleges that men reported Thompson’s conduct to other Hoag physicians. Sean Emery, Oc Register, 8 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for conduct
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conduct
Verb
  • Dogs should be supervised when chewing on a bone, and larger breeds should get large ones to prevent swallowing; there are also plenty of chew toys that have a similar texture to bones, which could be a good alternative.
    Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025
  • Labor costs can drop since workers can shift from manual weeding to supervising and maintaining the robots.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 12 July 2025
Verb
  • Authentic Indian Collaboration, Not Cultural Appropriation Shot in Mumbai and creatively directed by Indiana Vos, Songs of Siren's latest campaign serves as a vibrant love letter to India's rich textile traditions.
    Pooja Shah, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
  • The film, directed by Cody Jarrett and in the works since 2017, is narrated by Margaret Cho and includes interviews with John Waters, Dita Von Teese, Pamela Des Barres, Ted V. Mikels, original FPKK and Russ Meyer cast members and Satana’s two daughters.
    Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 21 July 2025
Verb
  • Now, another Russian satellite is behaving in the same way, with a mothership opening up to release a smaller object that could in turn reveal its own surprise inside like a Matryoshka nesting doll.
    Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 11 July 2025
  • Because Ireland is an Anglophone country with large diasporas located in the United Kingdom and the United States, it is assumed that politics should behave a little bit like the two nations who pump so much influence back into it through the mass media produced in London, New York, and Hollywood.
    Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 11 July 2025
Verb
  • This level of confidence from Oakley is helping steer their vision of the future with the help of innovators like Meta AI, Axiom Space, and Travis Scott.
    Cassell Ferere, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • The more plausible option is development on the Gulf side, which could be steered westward along the northern Gulf Coast, the weather forecast company stated.
    Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 12 July 2025
Verb
  • Dengue fever is transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which thrive in warm, humid conditions.
    Matthew Binnicker, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
  • Sideline communication will be handled by a custom mic transmitted over Verizon Business’ Private Wireless Solution.
    Julian Chokkattu, Wired News, 19 July 2025
Noun
  • The roof began going green in 2010, when the Detroit-Wayne Joint Building Authority and property management company Hines started replacing crumbling portions with sedum in the name of sustainability.
    Violet Ikonomova, Freep.com, 21 July 2025
  • Any deals are likely to be in Goldman’s asset management arm, which oversees $3.3 trillion but doesn’t carry the same cachet as firms such as Blackstone or KKR.
    Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 21 July 2025
Noun
  • As for longer-simmering, perhaps more structural market behaviors that should raise eyebrows?
    Michael Santoli, CNBC, 12 July 2025
  • His studies included classes on forensic psychology, death investigation, and antisocial behavior, per NewsNation.
    EW.com, EW.com, 12 July 2025
Verb
  • Wright oversaw every detail within Cedar Rock, right down to the cups and plates that graced the dinner table.
    AFAR Media, AFAR Media, 14 July 2025
  • Local health officials will also oversee the process to verify that the lead work done in MPS schools is up to standards, Weber said.
    Alison Dirr, jsonline.com, 14 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Conduct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conduct. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.

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