as in to disobey
to behave badly
scolded the children for misbehaving and sent them to bed early
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Recent Examples of misbehave
This encounter really does feel like an adult lady college professor expressing her disappointment in a misbehaving undergrad.
—
Sara Netzley, EW.com, 24 Apr. 2025
However, multiple studies demonstrate Black children are not more likely to misbehave than white children.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 26 Apr. 2025
Last year, Kyoto's famous geisha district started fining misbehaving tourists and the small town of Fujikawaguchiko – which offers a stunning view of the mountain – put up a screen to stop people from overcrowding when trying to snap the perfect photo.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2025
Cosseted from sunup to sundown by a smiling staff, they’re freed from the horse’s harness of daily routine, only to misbehave (drugs, alcohol, guns and worse) and then suffer for it.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for misbehave
Sara Netzley, EW.com, 24 Apr. 2025
However, multiple studies demonstrate Black children are not more likely to misbehave than white children.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 26 Apr. 2025
Last year, Kyoto's famous geisha district started fining misbehaving tourists and the small town of Fujikawaguchiko – which offers a stunning view of the mountain – put up a screen to stop people from overcrowding when trying to snap the perfect photo.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2025
Cosseted from sunup to sundown by a smiling staff, they’re freed from the horse’s harness of daily routine, only to misbehave (drugs, alcohol, guns and worse) and then suffer for it.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for misbehave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misbehave
Verb
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He's been charged with reckless driving, disobeying the signal of an officer, failure to maintain lane, passing on the right, improper turn, passing at an unsafe distance, engaging police in a pursuit, interfering with an officer and reckless endangerment in the first degree.—
Michael Nied,
People.com,
6 June 2025
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He was arrested on multiple charges, including reckless driving and disobeying an officer.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
28 May 2025
Verb
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Set in the 16th century, the film follows Magellan, a young and ambitious Portuguese navigator who rebels against the power of the King, who doesn’t support his dream of discovering the world.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
3 June 2025
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But rank-and-file Democratic lawmakers rebelled and Newsom abandoned the effort.—
George Skelton,
Los Angeles Times,
2 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Misbehave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misbehave. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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