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
Usually, that’s celebrity drama and misbehavior by athletes.
—Elex Michaelson, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2026
Deploying a series of small tweaks that nonetheless feel like a total reinvention, Slayyyter doubles down on misbehavior while simultaneously opening up new lanes of creative potential.
—Harry Tafoya, Pitchfork, 2 Apr. 2026
Positive punishment, on the other hand, is used to discourage misbehavior by taking away something that is desired, such as screen time or other privileges.
—Amy Morin, Parents, 1 Apr. 2026
Now, think of that with gasoline — enough material for a master’s thesis in human misbehavior.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for misbehavior
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Elex Michaelson, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2026
Deploying a series of small tweaks that nonetheless feel like a total reinvention, Slayyyter doubles down on misbehavior while simultaneously opening up new lanes of creative potential.
—Harry Tafoya, Pitchfork, 2 Apr. 2026
Positive punishment, on the other hand, is used to discourage misbehavior by taking away something that is desired, such as screen time or other privileges.
—Amy Morin, Parents, 1 Apr. 2026
Now, think of that with gasoline — enough material for a master’s thesis in human misbehavior.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 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 6 Apr. 2026.
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