BEHAVE Synonyms: 31 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'behave' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of behave are acquit , comport , conduct , and deport . While all these words mean "to act or to cause oneself to do something in a certain way," behave may apply to the meeting of a standard of what is proper or decorous. // the children behaved in church

Q: When can 'acquit' be used instead of 'behave'?

The words acquit and behave are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, acquit applies to action under stress that deserves praise or meets expectations. // acquitted herself well in her first assignment

Q: When might 'comport' be a better fit than 'behave'?

The synonyms comport and behave are sometimes interchangeable, but comport suggests conduct measured by what is expected or required of one in a certain class or position. // comported themselves as gentlemen

Q: When is 'conduct' a more appropriate choice than 'behave'?

The words conduct and behave can be used in similar contexts, 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

Q: When would 'deport' be a good substitute for 'behave'?

In some situations, the words deport and behave are roughly equivalent. However, 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

behave

verb

bi-ˈhāv

Definition of behave

as in to carry

to manage the actions of (oneself) in a particular way if the children behave themselves properly and sit quietly during church, they'll get their ice cream afterward

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How does the verb behave differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of behave are acquit, comport, conduct, and deport. While all these words mean "to act or to cause oneself to do something in a certain way," behave may apply to the meeting of a standard of what is proper or decorous.

the children behaved in church

When can acquit be used instead of behave?

The words acquit and behave are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, acquit applies to action under stress that deserves praise or meets expectations.

acquitted herself well in her first assignment

When might comport be a better fit than behave?

The synonyms comport and behave are sometimes interchangeable, but comport suggests conduct measured by what is expected or required of one in a certain class or position.

comported themselves as gentlemen

When is conduct a more appropriate choice than behave?

The words conduct and behave can be used in similar contexts, 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 would deport be a good substitute for behave?

In some situations, the words deport and behave are roughly equivalent. However, 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 behave But the second, subdominant charge density wave, behaved very differently. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 9 Aug. 2026 My attitude, when adults behave like middle-schoolers, is to take the high road and ignore it. — R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2026 The next time a frontier AI model behaves in an unexpected or dangerous way, the public shouldn’t have to hope the company involved decides to disclose it. — Andrew Freedman, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026 None of the residents reported the bear behaving aggressively, the department said, and there was no threat to the community. — Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for behave

Recent Examples of Synonyms for behave

Verb

Ultimately, though, the highlight is grabbing a glass of local wine at the lobby bar, carrying it to any one of the viewpoints on the massive lawn, and watching sunset over the silent sound, feeling like everything the light touches is yours.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Aug. 2026
In Cali, a woman was pulled from under a mountain of rubble on Tuesday to cheers as firemen carried her out on a stretcher following a complex, multinational rescue operation.

— Rocio Munoz, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of carry

Verb

All three of the suspects were also acquitted of one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and one count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, prosecutors said.

— Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
And in 2020, the Daily News reported that one Bronx gun suspect was acquitted and two others were allowed to withdraw felony guilty pleas after Habib admitted evidence in the case had been tampered with.

— Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of acquit

Verb

The bureau conducts its own investigation each time an agent fires a weapon.

— Isabelle Chapman, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
Sakkas conducted research in the 1990s that looked at the DNA of sperm from men with fertility problems and found little breaks in the molecules’ structure.

— Sarah Elizabeth Richards, Scientific American, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of conduct

Verb

The lawsuit argued that the new rules incorrectly preempt states’ powers to regulate how the interest generated by mortgage escrow accounts is handled.

— P.R. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026
Zaslav’s latest sale of 773,173 shares of WBD stock, for an aggregate market value of $21,655,292, was handled on his behalf by Fidelity Brokerage Services, according to a company filing with the SEC Thursday.

— Todd Spangler, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of handle

Verb

China can link humanitarian assistance, openness to border trade, energy supplies, and the provision of infrastructure to North Korea’s willingness to restrain its military threats.

— ZHENG JIYONG, Foreign Affairs, 10 Aug. 2026
Cunningham had to be restrained following the play and appeared to show her teammates that her mouth was bleeding.

— Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of restrain

Verb

Expand the Legislative Ethics Commission — which oversees the IG and is composed entirely of General Assembly members — to include public representatives.

— David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
Mishra composed four of the soundtrack’s six songs, sharing the album with Ravi Basrur, Tanishk Bagchi and Faheem Abdullah.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of compose

Verb

According to police sources, witnesses said two men threw two bottles containing an unknown substance into the deli.

— Allen Devlin, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
The proposal is for one building that would contain three studio apartment homes, 35 one-bedroom apartment homes, and 36 two bedroom apartment homes.

— Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of contain

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begun

behave

behaved

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“Behave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/behave. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of behave

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