BEHESTS Synonyms: 37 Similar and Opposite Words

behests

noun

plural of behest

as in instructions

a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned I only made the change at the author's behest

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for behests

Noun

Synthetic mRNA delivers the instructions on these specific targets, allowing the body to present them to immune cells.

— Mike McRae October 25, New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2026
Believing her daughter’s life was on the line, Del Mastro followed the caller’s instructions for five hours.

— Muskaan Arshad, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of instructions

Noun

Pro teams also tend to follow league edicts, especially since teams and their owners are contractually bound to their leagues.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 21 Oct. 2026
The film by and large follows the edicts of Iranian neorealism, with unobtrusive observations and a naturalistic soundscape.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of edicts

Noun

For now, courts have blocked the most consequential provisions of both orders, primarily on the ground that the President has no lawful authority to impose them.

— Barton Gellman, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2026
The company has not said whether the expansion will require more robots on Philadelphia sidewalks or whether its existing fleet will handle the additional orders.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of orders

Noun

Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain concluded that Olson violated two department directives, including rules governing conduct unbecoming an officer and conduct toward fellow employees.

— Brian Maass, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
Wednesday’s filing marks the latest escalation in the legal fight over conditions at the facility and the government’s lack of compliance with the court’s directives.

— Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of directives

Noun

This is, of course, the conception of fundamentalist theology, which threatens eternal hellfire for anyone who defies its commandments.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026
Wilde’s nine buttercream commandments show home bakers how to create visually striking, deeply personal cakes.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026

Definition of commandments

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.

Browse Nearby Words

behest

behests

behind

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Behests.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/behests. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of behests

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

grotesque

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes