misbehave

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "misbehave" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone acting inappropriately or not following rules, often in the context of children or pets. Example: "The teacher had to address the students who continued to misbehave during class."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Unless this pitch starts to misbehave, which seems unlikely, this is going to be another tough day for bowlers.

The Guardian - Sport

Clarkson denied reports last month that he had been warned by the BBC not to misbehave while filming in Argentina following a string of controversies involving the presenter and the long-running motoring series, BBC2's most popular show with around 6 million viewers a week.

The Guardian

That means more voter participation – in picking topics for debate and recalling MPs who misbehave – as well more power to the backbenches and open primaries, not small party cabals, to pick candidates.

The Guardian

A microcosm of the team's penchant for self-inflicted wounds was when then-coach Chelis commented, "When my children misbehave, I will tell them that I will send them to Utah," before a match against Real Salt Lake in March.

The Guardian - Sport

In the Soviet era, hooligans were often locked up for several years even for a first offence; few young Russians dared misbehave at a football match or pop concert.

The Economist

Selling options is a splendid way of making money when markets behave themselves and indeed such a strategy has made huge profits for those that have done so over the past couple of years.The problem comes when markets misbehave, which happens far more frequently than the sellers of options allow for.

The Economist

They misbehave, they break the dishes, make an awful lot of noise, and they are scaring away other customers".Mr Kenyon steers his parties towards hotels, bars and restaurants that like that kind of business.

The Economist

The petty criminals who raced past him were expected not to misbehave again.

The Economist

Critics often complain that charter schools are less helpful to students with special needs, and less lenient when students misbehave.

The Economist

The aim is a calm, secure working environment that tells children they have left their home lives and come somewhere different: school, where they come to learn.When they misbehave, even young pupils are invited to consider what they have done, and asked if they think they could have done something different.

The Economist

In 2013 TalkTalk alleged that Openreach was charging too much for network access, threatening its profitability but not that of BT, which pays the wholesale charge to itself.Ofcom poured cold water on that complaint, but it worries that BT might have an incentive to misbehave in future.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "misbehave" to describe actions that are inappropriate but not necessarily illegal or malicious.

Common error

Avoid using "misbehave" when the actions involve significant harm or criminal intent. Opt for terms like "commit a crime" or "act illegally" instead.

Linguistic Context

The verb "misbehave" functions as an intransitive verb, describing the act of behaving improperly or not following expected norms. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a common way to describe inappropriate actions as exemplified in the provided sources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Formal & Business

15%

Encyclopedias

11%

Less common in

Science

10%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "misbehave" is a frequently used verb to describe actions that deviate from expected behavior, as validated by Ludwig AI. It is grammatically sound and applicable across diverse contexts, from news reports to encyclopedic entries. When choosing alternatives, consider the specific context to ensure the replacement aligns with the intended meaning and level of formality. Understanding common usage errors, such as using "misbehave" for genuinely harmful actions, further refines effective communication. As Ludwig shows, the word is mostly present in "News & Media" and "Formal & Business".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

act improperly

Focuses on the inappropriateness of the action, emphasizing a violation of standards.

behave badly

A more general term indicating poor conduct without specifying the type.

act out

Often used in the context of children, suggesting emotional expression through behavior.

conduct oneself poorly

Formal and emphasizes personal responsibility for one's actions.

get out of line

Implies crossing a boundary or violating a rule, often in a social context.

step out of line

Synonymous to "get out of line" but it gives more emphasis to the concept of crossing the line.

be disruptive

Highlights the disturbance caused by the behavior, rather than the behavior itself.

cause trouble

Focuses on the negative consequences or problems resulting from the behavior.

defy authority

Emphasizes resistance or disobedience to rules or leadership.

commit misconduct

More formal, suggests a serious breach of ethical or professional standards.

FAQs

How can I use "misbehave" in a sentence?

You can use "misbehave" to describe someone acting inappropriately, for example: "The children tend to "act out" when they are tired and hungry."

What are some synonyms for "misbehave"?

Alternatives to "misbehave" include "act improperly", "behave badly", or "get out of line", depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "misbehave" in formal writing?

Yes, "misbehave" is generally acceptable in formal writing, but consider using more precise terms like "commit misconduct" or "violate regulations" if the context requires greater specificity.

What's the difference between "misbehave" and "commit a crime"?

"Misbehave" refers to actions that are inappropriate or against rules but not necessarily illegal. "Commit a crime", on the other hand, refers specifically to breaking the law and can be more serious than to "act out".