acts (toward)

verb

Definition of acts (toward)next
present tense third-person singular of act (toward)
as in is (to)
to behave toward in a stated way I would never act toward my boss that way

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for acts (toward)
  1. treats
  2. handles
  3. serves
Verb
  • Sustainable investing is already on the back foot, worn down by years of greenwashing scandals, funds quietly stripped of their green labels, and a political backlash that treats ESG as an insult.
    — Ingmar Rentzhog, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
  • Borrowing from the principles of Land Art, Amangiri treats the landscape as the protagonist rather than a backdrop.
    — Lara Johnson-Wheeler, Vogue, 3 July 2026
Definition of treats
Verb
  • Every July 4, the communications center in Rancho Cordova handles its highest call volume.
    — Andrew Graham July 3, Sacbee.com, 3 July 2026
  • Oman has said that any agreement will comply with international law, although the prospect of a financial system on a waterway that typically handles around 20% of the world's oil has sparked alarm.
    — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 3 July 2026
Definition of handles
Verb
  • San Francisco serves as a prime example of how the roaring AI industry is helping drive economic growth more broadly, but masking the economic inequality of lower-and-middle-income families.
    — Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
  • The largely unfamiliar cast lend an air of unpredictability that serves the central mystery well, while the city itself — the bulk of the events take place in the brutalist confines of the Barbican Estate — plays an admirable supporting role.
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 6 July 2026
Definition of serves
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

acts out
acts (toward)
acts up
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Acts (toward).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acts%20%28toward%29. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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