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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 Why 2026 is different Nonetheless, analysts CNBC spoke to broadly agreed that reforms meant that even if the market is behaving in similar ways to the post-financial crisis period, the contagion risk remained limited this time around. — Jenni Reid,chloe Taylor, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026 Congress should hold hearings focused on companies cutting corners, not AI programs behaving badly. — David Litt, Time, 23 Oct. 2026 Four decades later, physicists still aren’t entirely sure what makes their electrons behave so differently. — Sven Badoux, New Atlas, 23 Oct. 2026 Heidi lovingly describes Lucky as the elder who shows the ponies how to behave. — Lisa Hughes, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for behave

Recent Examples of Synonyms for behave

Verb

During captive-carry testing, engineers can assess equipment carried by an aircraft before proceeding to more demanding flight demonstrations.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
For airlines, the larger plane offers a way to carry more passengers on a single flight, potentially lowering costs per seat.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of carry

Verb

Democrats have targeted Paxton, who is benefiting from millions in outside spending, over corruption claims and his impeachment by the Texas Legislature, though he was later acquitted.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner earlier in October said that Lewis was acquitted in a previous murder case, blaming police misconduct for the outcome.

— Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of acquit

Verb

Kyiv has accused Russian forces of mining nearby roads and using the remaining residents as human shields to prevent Ukraine’s army from conducting offensive operations in the town.

— Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 27 Oct. 2026
Planning Commissioner Chris Salley asked if the city would conduct a fiscal impact study on each project where these incentives were offered and how would the city decide which project to subsidize.

— Marc Hayot, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of conduct

Verb

Seventy-one percent also doubt that his village cooperatives policy—which plans to establish hubs in roughly 80,000 communities to handle basic-goods distribution, savings, and other rural services—would succeed.

— Jay Ganglani, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
The case remains under investigation and is being handled by the Sheriff’s Department Homicide Division, according to Arcadia police.

— Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of handle

Verb

On the strength of those elections, restrained only marginally by the midterm elections of 1982, Reagan began his second term on top of the world.

— Ron Elving, NPR, 24 Oct. 2026
Security restrained Kruse’s arm behind her back while escorting her through the stands.

— Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of restrain

Verb

The Kinest’e Community Coalition, composed of Lincoln and other tribal members and their allies, continues its fight to not only have a say in the project but also to reroute the trail to protect sacred sites, including graves.

— Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Particleboard, for example, signals a contemporary renovation since the original kitchens were composed primarily of solid softwood and wood-core board.

— Tara Anne Dalbow, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of compose

Verb

Shauf quit drinking in 2020, and while The Party contains its fair share of drunken regret, alcohol is a more central subject on the afterparty’s other two outtakes.

— Lily Goldberg, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026
The medical response has focused largely on treating and containing the disease, with little to no attention to the mental health of those affected.

— Constant Same Bagalwa, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of contain

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behave

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“Behave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/behave. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of behave

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