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 By using humor to upend expectations about how women should behave. — Stephanie Vander Wel, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2026 Her husband, Bobby Lane, was driving Otwell and their two children from their Wilmar home to the Walmart in Monticello when an Arkansas State Police cruiser coming the opposite direction began behaving erratically. — Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 27 Aug. 2026 Adair died in his cell following an altercation with multiple deputies that evening, many of whom testified Adair was being noncompliant and behaving erratically following a visit to the jail’s medical clinic. — Sofi Zeman august 26, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2026 The signal in that is post-Covid travel has behaved like a secular growth story, not a cyclical one. — Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for behave

Recent Examples of Synonyms for behave

Verb

Washington claimed that the launchers were preparing to fire rockets carrying sea mines into the Hormuz Strait.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026
When difficulty arrives, will your routines carry you forward?

— Jason Bork, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of carry

Verb

Prosecutors decided to retry Read, and she was acquitted of the most serious charges, second-degree murder and leaving the scene of a collision resulting in death, by a new jury in June 2025.

— N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
She was acquitted in 1893 but has remained on of the most infamous murder suspects in American history.

— Madeleine Janz, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of acquit

Verb

Mayor Zohran Mamdani said an internal investigation will be conducted and that the body-camera footage will be released to the public.

— Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
Mamdani applauded police for stopping the attack but said an internal investigation would be conducted.

— Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of conduct

Verb

Loading silverware handles down and usable ends up ensures maximum cleanliness but may lead to accidents.

— Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Sep. 2026
Sánchez is facing mounting scrutiny amid a prolonged humanitarian crisis in Ceuta, where the flood of thousands of migrants has angered residents in the tiny community, which is ill-equipped to handle such an influx.

— Suman Naishadham, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of handle

Verb

Appropriately so, given the placid recent range and the clockwork mechanics of sector rotation and low-correlation restraining index-level volatility.

— Michael Santoli, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
This was the context for Justice Brewer’s remarks about Philip sober restraining Philip drunk.

— Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of restrain

Verb

Anurag Saikia composed the music for the first track, which features vocals by Jyoti Nooran and lyrics by Shakeel Azmi.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026
One such scene that appears captured, not composed, arises when a playful exchange about AccRite’s dead son on a job site goes too far.

— Marshall Shaffer, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of compose

Verb

The lawsuit filed by two former employees contains allegations that are false, misleading, and unsupported by credible evidence.

— Devon Henderson, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
The lawsuit, first reported by the Times of San Diego, contains previously unreported details about the shooting and the events leading up to it.

— Will Carless, USA Today, 2 Sep. 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 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of behave

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