MISBEHAVE Synonyms: 40 Similar and Opposite Words

misbehave

verb

ˌmis-bi-ˈhāv

Definition of misbehave

as in to disobey

to behave badly scolded the children for misbehaving and sent them to bed early

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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 misbehave Husbands should have dominion over misbehaving wives’ weight, spending habits, and choice of television programs. — Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 14 May 2026 Uber, in a court filing seeking to have Grimes thrown off the case, said the San Francisco attorney had also misbehaved earlier. — Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 8 May 2026 When lawyers misbehave, people stop believing in the court system and in equal justice. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 4 May 2026 Alienating allies When troubles mounted earlier this year, Neugebauer began to misbehave in public. — Chris Tomlinson, Houston Chronicle, 30 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for misbehave

Recent Examples of Synonyms for misbehave

Verb

People don’t do what they’re supposed to, or someone betrays someone else for money or power or spite, or maybe a dragon just disobeys its rider and decides to murder a prince.

— Brian Grubb, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
Contempt of Congress is a federal misdemeanor in which an individual willfully disobeys or impedes a congressional investigation.

— Connor Greene, Time, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of disobey

Verb

Make the first right on the man who permitted the heads of rebelling slaves to be put on stakes and spread across the city in order to prevent the others from getting any ideas.

— Terry Gross, NPR, 14 Aug. 2026
When the mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin rebelled against Putin, in 2023, the Wall Street Journal reported that then security council chief Nikolai Patrushev, age 75, orchestrated the plane crash that killed the rebel leader.

— Julian G. Waller, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of rebel

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misbegotten

misbehave

misbehaved

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“Misbehave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misbehave. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of misbehave

verb

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