misbehavior
noun
mis·be·hav·ior
ˌmis-bi-ˈhā-vyər 
-bē-
plural misbehaviors
1
: bad, improper, or rude behavior : ill conduct
scolded the children for their misbehavior
2
US military law
: any conduct by a member of the armed forces before or in the presence of the enemy that does not conform to military standards or practice for such a situation
… is charged with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy, the latter of which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.—
The Boston Herald
The Boston HeraldExamples of misbehavior in a Sentence
would not tolerate any misbehavior from her students
Recent Examples on the Web
Many feel pressure to be tough on misbehavior, said Anita Wadhwa, a former teacher who now runs a nonprofit in Houston focused on alternative approaches to school discipline.
—Clare Amari, New York Times, 27 May 2026
The destruction of important files cannot be chalked up to isolated instances of misbehavior or recklessness.
—Amer Matar, The Dial, 26 May 2026
Some states are taking a different approach to student misbehavior, saying that the answer is to bring in more consequences and give teachers more power to punish disruptive students.
—Stacker, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026
Know More This month wasn’t Gallego’s first experience with vague allegations of personal misbehavior.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for misbehavior
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Clare Amari, New York Times, 27 May 2026
The destruction of important files cannot be chalked up to isolated instances of misbehavior or recklessness.
—Amer Matar, The Dial, 26 May 2026
Some states are taking a different approach to student misbehavior, saying that the answer is to bring in more consequences and give teachers more power to punish disruptive students.
—Stacker, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026
Know More This month wasn’t Gallego’s first experience with vague allegations of personal misbehavior.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for misbehavior
Cite this Entry
“Misbehavior.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misbehavior. Accessed 28 May. 2026.
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