misbehave
Break the rules
Misbehave means to behave badly or improperly, especially by breaking rules or social norms.
Children misbehave when they act out; adults misbehave when they violate expectations of conduct: The kids misbehaved the entire flight.
The word often carries a tone of mild rebuke rather than serious accusation.
Refuse to comply
- defyResist or challenge openly
- rebelAuthority defier
- resistOppose or refuse compliance
- floutOpenly defy authority
disregard · refuse · reject · insubordination · noncompliance · talk back · act out · push boundaries
Playful trick on someone
- shenanigansMischievous or deceitful behavior
- anticsAbsurd, attention-seeking behavior
- troublemakingDeliberately causing discord
- naughtinessMinor improper conduct
impishness · roguishness · tomfoolery · high jinks · monkeyshines · horseplay · clowning · acting up
Disruption of order
- commotionNoisy, confused disturbance
- ruckusNoisy, disruptive commotion
- uproarNoisy public disturbance
- chaosComplete disorder and confusion
troublemaker · rowdiness · unruliness · interrupting · acting out · class clown · attention-seeking · scene-making
Penalty for an offense
- consequencesResults of actions taken
- scoldingHarsh verbal criticism
- reprimandFormal expression of disapproval
- groundingConnecting to earth
time-out · detention · suspension · correction · loss of privileges · stern talk · warning · probation
disobey
Refuse to comply
flout · disregard · refuse · reject · insubordination · noncompliance · talk back · act out · push boundaries · willful
prank
Playful trick on someone
- shenanigansMischievous or deceitful behavior
- anticsAbsurd, attention-seeking behavior
- troublemakingDeliberately causing discord
naughtiness · impishness · roguishness · tomfoolery · high jinks · monkeyshines · horseplay · clowning · acting up · foolishness
disturbance
Disruption of order
chaos · troublemaker · rowdiness · unruliness · interrupting · acting out · class clown · attention-seeking · scene-making · loudness
punishment
Penalty for an offense
- consequencesResults of actions taken
- scoldingHarsh verbal criticism
- reprimandFormal expression of disapproval
grounding · time-out · detention · suspension · correction · loss of privileges · stern talk · warning · probation · accountability
outburst
Sudden emotional release
whining · kicking · stomping · flailing · pouting · sulking · fussing · fit · temper · hysterics
- mis- wordsmiscall, miscount, misdeed, misfire, misfit
- misbehaviormischief, misconduct, naughty, naughtiness, disobedient
misbehavebehave
Act in acceptable ways
obey · comply · be good · behave oneself · conform
misbehavecontain oneself
Suppress one's impulses
inhibit · collect oneself · repress · behave oneself · keep one's cool
misbehavior, misbehaving, misbehaved, misbehaves, misbehavers, misbehaver