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
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
Don’t lower your standards or expectations because others misbehave.
—Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 14 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for misbehave
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
Don’t lower your standards or expectations because others misbehave.
—Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 14 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for misbehave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for misbehave
Verb
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The judge, Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers of U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, rebuked Apple for thwarting a previous ruling in the lawsuit and said the company needed to be stopped from further disobeying the court.—
Tripp Mickle,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
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She was taken to Troop A in Southbury and charged with engaging police in pursuit, interfering with an officer, disobeying the signal of an officer, operation of a motor vehicle under suspension and operation of a motor vehicle without minimum insurance.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Its stories about an amateur tennis pro from a low-to-middle class family and his relationship with an artist looking to rebel against her family’s upper-class attitudes took advantage of their youthful vision to tell more stories about their parents’ lack of ambition.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
20 May 2025
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Related article Mavericks fans rebelled after Luka Dončić was traded.—
Matias Grez,
CNN Money,
14 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Misbehave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/misbehave. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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