conduct 1 of 2

verb

kən-ˈdəkt How to pronounce conduct (audio)
Definition of conductnext
1
as in to supervise
to look after and make decisions about the company's president continues to conduct the everyday affairs of the software firm he founded many years ago

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in to direct
to cause to move to a central point or along a restricted pathway the gutter conducts water to the curb, thus protecting the house's basement

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to behave
to manage the actions of (oneself) in a particular way conducted themselves at the party like perfect ladies and gentlemen

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to steer
to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front a job conducting tourists through the historical museum

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to transmit
to cause (something) to pass from one to another a material that conducts heat quite efficiently

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

conduct

2 of 2

noun

ˈkän-(ˌ)dəkt How to pronounce conduct (audio)
1
as in management
the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something the President was happy to leave the conduct of foreign affairs to his secretary of state

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in behavior
the way or manner in which one conducts oneself a child who has often been scolded for poor conduct

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word conduct distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of conduct are control, direct, and manage. While all these words mean "to use one's powers to lead, guide, or dominate," conduct implies taking responsibility for the acts and achievements of a group.

conducted negotiations

In what contexts can control take the place of conduct?

The meanings of control and conduct largely overlap; however, control implies a regulating or restraining in order to keep within bounds or on a course.

controlling his appetite

When might direct be a better fit than conduct?

While in some cases nearly identical to conduct, direct implies constant guiding and regulating so as to achieve smooth operation.

directs the store's day-to-day business

When can manage be used instead of conduct?

The words manage and conduct can be used in similar contexts, but manage implies direct handling and manipulating or maneuvering toward a desired result.

manages a meat market

Example Sentences

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 conduct
Verb
But he has been impressed with how Gardner has conducted himself with the coaching staff and his teammates. —Antwan Staley, Hartford Courant, 13 June 2025 This week’s event saw plenty of talk of how to navigate the many challenges facing the TV biz, but affairs at NEM were conducted with some style, with a diary of cocktails and events taking place against a stunning Croatian backdrop. —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 13 June 2025
Noun
The defense mentioned Proctor repeatedly during Read’s retrial, with defense attorney Alan Jackson at one point asking his supervisor whether his conduct tainted their examination of O’Keefe’s death. —Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 11 June 2025 Under the circumstances, the Commission should investigate EchoStar's conduct in seeking an extension of its final buildout deadlines. —ArsTechnica, 10 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for conduct
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conduct
  1. supervise
  2. direct
  3. behave
  4. steer
  5. transmit
  6. management
  7. behavior
  8. oversee
Verb
  • Kim also supervised test-firings of missiles from the destroyer afterward, and state media said the ship was expected to enter active duty early next year.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 June 2025
  • There would also be logistical questions to address, including who's responsible for supervising students if they are made to leave their classroom during certain lessons and how to select alternative material that is inoffensive to their parents.
    — BrieAnna J. Frank, USA Today, 3 June 2025
Definition of supervise
Verb
  • However, the ultimate goal is to turn these into relays mounted on drones flying at high altitudes to direct the power where needed.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 June 2025
  • Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, an adaptation of Amélie Nothomb’s novel, directed by Maïlys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han, won Annecy’s audience award for best feature.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 14 June 2025
Definition of direct
Verb
  • Successful deployment depends on robust guardrails—policies, oversight mechanisms and escalation paths that ensure agents behave in alignment with enterprise standards.
    — Alan Ranger, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
  • There are times when adults really should behave more like children.
    — DeVonne Goode, Parents, 6 June 2025
Definition of behave
Verb
  • The program has drawn scrutiny for years, seen by critics as ways for supervisors to solicit political support by steering millions in public money to recipients of their choosing with no public debate.
    — Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2025
  • After seizing power in 2007, Hamas clamped down on Gaza’s gangs — sometimes with brute force and sometimes by steering perks their way.
    — Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2025
Definition of steer
Verb
  • Companies that create hiring platforms tend to take data security pretty seriously — but any data transmitted over the internet from your organization to an AI's learning database has the potential to be exposed.
    — Ashton Jackson, CNBC, 13 June 2025
  • Hakeem Jeffries transmit a request increase future federal deficits Explore this year's list.
    — Kevin Freking, Fortune, 13 June 2025
Definition of transmit
Noun
  • Conversely, people spend an inordinate amount of time on weight management, cardiovascular improvement and muscular strength.
    — Matt Parrott, Arkansas Online, 15 June 2025
  • FlexJobs data shows that the most in-demand remote jobs of 2025, still hiring right now, include software engineering, product management, project management, and customer success, to name a few.
    — Rachel Wells, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025
Definition of management
Noun
  • The women allege a longstanding pattern of such behavior.
    — Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 7 June 2025
  • When Manford reported the incident, a supervisor allegedly laughed at her and did not report the behavior to human resources, the lawsuit claims.
    — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 6 June 2025
Definition of behavior
Verb
  • A week later, Qasem Hassan learned that the School for Continuing Medical Education in Family Medicine, which oversaw the ethics course, had received a letter from several residents in the class.
    — Eyal Press, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
  • Eventually the archipelago was divided, with the western islands becoming the independent nation of Samoa and the eastern ones becoming American Samoa, overseen by the Navy.
    — Mark Thiessen, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2025
Definition of oversee

Browse Nearby Words

conducive
conduct
conducted
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Conduct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conduct. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on conduct

Nglish: Translation of conduct for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about conduct

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