as in carries
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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Recent Examples of behaves
The Manchester physicists wanted to know why a full can behaves this way.
—
ArsTechnica, 2 May 2026
The moral decay of Karensville might as well be Charlottesville and the epithet-spewing McLeoud behaves too much like myriad red-state lawmen for comfort.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
In other words, the cell behaves like a nanocomputer and a genome behaves like software.
—Eliza Strickland, IEEE Spectrum, 30 Apr. 2026
Investors, customers and the public remember how a company or ecosystem behaves in moments of stress or opportunity.
—Melissa Jun Rowley, Rolling Stone, 29 Apr. 2026
How Washington behaves vis-à-vis those deposits influences the process and reconfigures the balance within the Shia house.
—Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
The pattern of stripes shows that the photon’s two interfering paths are wave-like, also suggesting that a quantum particle behaves much like a wave.
—Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 23 Apr. 2026
For example, cesium chemically behaves like sodium and potassium, which are accumulated in human tissues.
—Eduardo B. Farfán, The Conversation, 21 Apr. 2026
For the scientists who identified and described the species, the footage offers their first opportunity to observe how Cryptodrassus michaeli behaves.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 15 Apr. 2026
ArsTechnica, 2 May 2026
The moral decay of Karensville might as well be Charlottesville and the epithet-spewing McLeoud behaves too much like myriad red-state lawmen for comfort.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
In other words, the cell behaves like a nanocomputer and a genome behaves like software.
—Eliza Strickland, IEEE Spectrum, 30 Apr. 2026
Investors, customers and the public remember how a company or ecosystem behaves in moments of stress or opportunity.
—Melissa Jun Rowley, Rolling Stone, 29 Apr. 2026
How Washington behaves vis-à-vis those deposits influences the process and reconfigures the balance within the Shia house.
—Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
The pattern of stripes shows that the photon’s two interfering paths are wave-like, also suggesting that a quantum particle behaves much like a wave.
—Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 23 Apr. 2026
For example, cesium chemically behaves like sodium and potassium, which are accumulated in human tissues.
—Eduardo B. Farfán, The Conversation, 21 Apr. 2026
For the scientists who identified and described the species, the footage offers their first opportunity to observe how Cryptodrassus michaeli behaves.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 15 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for behaves
Verb
-
The racketeering conspiracy count carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
2 May 2026
-
Lady Bunny, the drag queen comedian whose legacy extends back to the early 1980s, carries an eternal summer vibe due to her founding of the historic Wigstock Festival, a drag celebration which happened every year from 1985 to 2005.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
2 May 2026
Verb
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In the proud lineage of pint-sized blonde women who’ve held their own against Madonna, Carpenter acquits herself quite well.—
Harry Tafoya,
Pitchfork,
1 May 2026
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To fit all listening scenarios, like all DALI loudspeakers, KUPID also acquits itself at low and high volumes.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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However, the account holder does need to provide proof if the IRS conducts a tax audit in the future, McClanahan said.—
Greg Iacurci,
CNBC,
1 May 2026
-
Following the video, CBS News conducts its own analysis.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The office also handles business registrations, oversees the state archives and runs a potpourri of other state programs, like commissioning notaries public and maintaining a registry for advance care directives.—
Ben Paviour,
Sacbee.com,
25 Apr. 2026
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While porcelain is very durable and handles baking soda well, Murphy notes that acrylic and fiberglass scratch easily.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The group composes its own sacred music, lilting songs that prompt women in green-and-white wraparounds to vigorously shake their bodies.—
Rodney Muhumuza,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
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The art was created by Lily Whear and Lizzie Younan composes our music.—
Carol Sutton Lewis,
Scientific American,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
At certain points in the novel, that distance calcifies and restrains his writing.—
Taran Dugal,
New Yorker,
4 Mar. 2026
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And most of the officials agreed that the Fed’s key rate is close to a level that neither stimulates nor restrains the economy.—
Christopher Rugaber,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Wash the garment or table linen as recommended on the care label using a heavy-duty detergent that contains enzymes.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
3 May 2026
-
This story contains mention of suicide.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
3 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Behaves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/behaves. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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