misbehavior
Acting out inappropriately
Misbehavior is conduct that violates rules or expectations—typically minor infractions rather than serious offenses.
The word appears most often in contexts involving children or institutions: The teacher sent him to the principal's office for misbehavior.
Adults misbehave too, though the word carries a slightly juvenile or euphemistic tone when applied to them.
Refusal to follow orders
- defianceOpen resistance to authority
- insubordinationDefying workplace authority
- disrespectLack of regard
- noncomplianceFailure to follow requirements
unruliness · disruptiveness · impudence · insolence · impertinence · recalcitrance · waywardness · obstinacy
Improper professional behavior
- offenseViolation or umbrage
- infractionMinor rule breach
- transgressionViolation of law or code
- wrongdoingUnethical or illegal action
breach · misdemeanor · trespass · infringement · contravention · illegality · crime · delinquency
Open resistance to authority
- disobedienceRefusal to follow orders
- insubordinationDefying workplace authority
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
- dissentDisagreement with authority
nonconformity · mutiny · subversion · revolt · uprising · protest · sedition · insurrection
Playful mischievous acts
- shenanigansMischievous or deceitful behavior
- tomfooleryFoolish or silly behavior
- anticsAbsurd, attention-seeking behavior
- high jinksBoisterous, playful behavior
monkeyshines · troublemaking · horseplay · hijinks · skylarking · roguery · devilry · impishness
Penalty for an offense
- consequencesResults of actions taken
- reprimandFormal expression of disapproval
- scoldingHarsh verbal criticism
- groundingConnecting to earth
detention · suspension · time-out · probation · sanction · penalty · admonition · correction
Improve by correcting faults
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
- guidanceAdvice for decisions
- remediationAct of correcting faults
- interventionPurposeful involvement to change course
counseling · therapy · redirection · training · improvement · amendment · rectification · adjustment
disobedience
Refusal to follow orders
- defianceOpen resistance to authority
- insubordinationDefying workplace authority
- disrespectLack of regard
noncompliance · unruliness · disruptiveness · impudence · insolence · impertinence · recalcitrance · waywardness · obstinacy · contrariness
misconduct
Improper professional behavior
- offenseViolation or umbrage
- infractionMinor rule breach
- transgressionViolation of law or code
wrongdoing · breach · misdemeanor · trespass · infringement · contravention · illegality · crime · delinquency · lawbreaking
defiance
Open resistance to authority
- disobedienceRefusal to follow orders
- insubordinationDefying workplace authority
- resistanceCapacity to withstand force
dissent · nonconformity · mutiny · subversion · revolt · uprising · protest · sedition · insurrection · rioting
pranks
Playful mischievous acts
- shenanigansMischievous or deceitful behavior
- tomfooleryFoolish or silly behavior
- anticsAbsurd, attention-seeking behavior
high jinks · monkeyshines · troublemaking · horseplay · hijinks · skylarking · roguery · devilry · impishness · clowning
punishment
Penalty for an offense
- consequencesResults of actions taken
- reprimandFormal expression of disapproval
- scoldingHarsh verbal criticism
grounding · detention · suspension · time-out · probation · sanction · penalty · admonition · correction · chastisement
reform
Improve by correcting faults
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
- guidanceAdvice for decisions
- remediationAct of correcting faults
intervention · counseling · therapy · redirection · training · improvement · amendment · rectification · adjustment · recovery
- bratty behaviortantrum, whining, pouting, sulking, backtalk
- defiancedefiance, disobedience, insubordination, noncompliance, rebellion
- misbehaviormischief, misconduct, naughty, naughtiness, disobedient
- unrulinessmisconduct, disobedience, defiance, insubordination, indiscipline
- wrongdoingmisconduct, crime, sabotage, crimes, transgression
- mischiefmischief, hijinks, antics, pranks, antic
misbehaviorgood behavior
Acceptable, rule-following conduct
obedience · good conduct · compliance · propriety · good manners
misbehaviorvirtue
Moral goodness or merit
righteousness · benevolence · good deeds · rectitude · uprightness
misbehaviorgood behavior
Acceptable, rule-following conduct
good conduct · propriety · decorum · manners · politeness