misbehave

[ mis-bi-heyv ]
/ ˌmɪs bɪˈheɪv /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR misbehave ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), mis·be·haved, mis·be·hav·ing.

to behave badly or improperly: The children misbehaved during our visit.

verb (used with object), mis·be·haved, mis·be·hav·ing.

to conduct (oneself) without regard for good manners or accepted moral standards: Several of the guests misbehaved themselves.

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Origin of misbehave

late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75; see origin at mis-1, behave

OTHER WORDS FROM misbehave

mis·be·hav·er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to misbehave

trespass, fool around, act up, sin, offend, fail, misconduct, roughhouse, deviate, transgress, carry on, cut up, go astray, go wrong, sow wild oats

Example sentences from the Web for misbehave

British Dictionary definitions for misbehave

misbehave
/ (ˌmɪsbɪˈheɪv) /

verb

to behave (oneself) badly

Derived forms of misbehave

misbehaver, nounmisbehaviour (ˌmɪsbɪˈheɪvjə), noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012