BEHAVING Synonyms: 101 Similar and Opposite Words

behaving 1 of 2

adjective

as in behaved

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behaving

2 of 2

verb

present participle of behave

as in carrying

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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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 behaving

Verb

Anybody can be charming to a powerful boss, an attractive stranger, or a potentially useful client; character is more diagnostic when there is little reputational or instrumental benefit to behaving well. — Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 SwRI’s new toy for sCO₂ testing Their job is to control where and how quickly CO₂ enters the rock formation, prevent unwanted fluids moving around the well, and generally keep the reservoir behaving as intended. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 29 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 Residents who encounter a bear should not approach it and should give it space to move through the area safely, and anyone facing a bear behaving aggressively or posing an immediate threat should call 911. — Sacbee.com, 13 Aug. 2026 Driscoll and others involved in the mission worried that something far less dramatic could derail it, such as an accidental weapon discharge, an isolated confrontation with a protester or a guardsman caught on camera behaving poorly. — Steven Beynon, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for behaving

Adjective

Forget about the ill-behaved, performative fans hoping to go viral on TikTok for unseemly behavior.

— Fred Katz, New York Times, 14 June 2026
For families There are a couple of (very well behaved) babies here during my stay, but no kids dive-bombing the pool, and the stairs around this maze of a property aren’t particularly stroller friendly.

— Sarah Leigh Bannerman, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Jan. 2026

Definition of behaved

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
Two supertankers carrying Saudi oil were struck on Monday, undermining the White House’s claims that the Strait of Hormuz is safe for navigation.

— Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of carrying

Adjective

These rules are set to maintain decorum, determine the will of the majority, preserve the rights of the minority, and facilitate the orderly transaction of business.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
At times, his psychological explanations may seem almost too orderly for a woman who lived so exuberantly in disorder.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of orderly

Verb

Jurors at his 2025 murder trial deliberated for weeks before acquitting him on one murder count and failing to reach a verdict on another murder count.

— Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 21 July 2026
Observers say the jury’s 10-2 vote in favor of acquitting Jonathan Rinderknecht was a major blow to Essayli’s office.

— Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026

Definition of acquitting

Verb

What those reviews don't capture is the proportion of bookings that complete without incident, which, across platforms handling millions of reservations annually, is considerably higher than review distributions suggest.

— Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
Wash hands after handling any pet food and keep children away from pet food dishes and treats.

— Kimberly Baker, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of handling

Verb

In fact, Tiffany’s record shows little concern for protecting natural resources and local control, or for restraining corporate power.

— Dan Kaufman, New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2026
But Gorsuch also wrote that an individual conference, through its members’ voting, can adopt various rules restraining athletes’ potential compensation as conference members see fit.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of restraining

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“Behaving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/behaving. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of behaving

adjective

verb

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