misbehave

[mis-bi-heyv] / ˌmɪs bɪˈheɪv /

VERB

act in inappropriate manner

Synonyms

STRONGEST

act up fool around trespass

STRONG

deviate fail misconduct offend roughhouse sin transgress

WEAK

be at fault be bad be dissolute be guilty be immoral be indecorous be insubordinate be mischievous be out of line be out of order be reprehensible bend the law carry on cut up do evil do wrong get into mischief go astray go wrong make trouble sow wild oats take a wrong turn

Antonyms

STRONG

behave obey

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

They claim that the laws are widely abused as a blackmail tool in divorces, enrich lawyers and let spouses who misbehave off the hook, treating them as passive objects with no agency.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

Prodigy City is located in what was formerly Thailand, where the series was filmed, giving every character, human and otherwise, plenty of space to hide and misbehave.

From Salon • Aug. 5, 2025

Even amoral or timorous lawyers will hesitate to misbehave if it becomes clear that doing so endangers their livelihood.

From Slate • Mar. 17, 2025

The school asks parents to come into lessons and sit next to their child if they misbehave in class.

From BBC • Feb. 17, 2025

Will she kick me out and leave me in the street if I misbehave?

From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar

Vocabulary lists containing misbehave

List 5

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

mis-

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Prefixes: mis-

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!