as in to disobey
to behave badly
scolded the children for misbehaving and sent them to bed early
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 misbehave
Lilian was about to say something—like how odd that an arm could wake up one morning and decide to misbehave—but Tina held up a finger.
—
Yiyun Li, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2025
As a formal statement of disapproval, censure is about the worst punishment for a misbehaving House member short of removing them from office.
—Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2025
Leave it to Ben Stiller, the man who’s heading up the very practical production of Severance, to star in a bit about getting stuck on a misbehaving lift on the stage floor to point out the need for precision in production design.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2025
Scientists say it’s being caused by a misbehaving polar vortex combining with a key weather pattern that seems to be stuck in place.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for misbehave
Yiyun Li, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2025
As a formal statement of disapproval, censure is about the worst punishment for a misbehaving House member short of removing them from office.
—Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2025
Leave it to Ben Stiller, the man who’s heading up the very practical production of Severance, to star in a bit about getting stuck on a misbehaving lift on the stage floor to point out the need for precision in production design.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2025
Scientists say it’s being caused by a misbehaving polar vortex combining with a key weather pattern that seems to be stuck in place.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for misbehave
Cite this Entry
“Misbehave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misbehave. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share