as in to disobey
to behave badly
scolded the children for misbehaving and sent them to bed early
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Recent Examples of misbehave
Last year, Kyoto's famous geisha district started fining misbehaving tourists and the small town of Fujikawaguchiko – which offers a stunning view of the mountain – put up a screen to stop people from overcrowding when trying to snap the perfect photo.
—
Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2025
Cosseted from sunup to sundown by a smiling staff, they’re freed from the horse’s harness of daily routine, only to misbehave (drugs, alcohol, guns and worse) and then suffer for it.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 15 Feb. 2025
Don’t lower your standards or expectations because others misbehave.
—Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 14 Nov. 2024
Additionally, Spratt said that probably about 75% of the kids found misbehaving won’t stop for the police.
—Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for misbehave
Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2025
Cosseted from sunup to sundown by a smiling staff, they’re freed from the horse’s harness of daily routine, only to misbehave (drugs, alcohol, guns and worse) and then suffer for it.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 15 Feb. 2025
Don’t lower your standards or expectations because others misbehave.
—Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 14 Nov. 2024
Additionally, Spratt said that probably about 75% of the kids found misbehaving won’t stop for the police.
—Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for misbehave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misbehave
Verb
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Resto was arrested on charges of reckless driving, disobeying signal of an officer, engaging police in a pursuit, failure to maintain proper lane on a limited access highway and interfering with an officer/resisting.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
30 Apr. 2025
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The YouGov/The Economist survey also shows that nearly half of Americans think that the Trump administration is disobeying court orders when deporting immigrants.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
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As few as four lawmakers rebelling in the House or Senate could derail the final package, as no Democrats are expected to support the legislation.—
Riley Beggin,
USA Today,
10 May 2025
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Medicaid benefits: Moderates are rebelling against per-capita spending caps, as well as shifting some of the cost burden to the states.—
Hans Nichols,
Axios,
7 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Misbehave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misbehave. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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