misbehaviour
Acting out inappropriately
Misbehaviour is the British spelling of misbehavior—conduct that violates rules or norms, especially by children.
The word implies actions that fall short of serious wrongdoing but warrant correction: The teacher sent him to the principal's office for misbehaviour.
It can also describe adult conduct that breaches professional or social standards.
Playful mischievous acts
- shenanigansMischievous or deceitful behavior
- tomfooleryFoolish or silly behavior
- anticsAbsurd, attention-seeking behavior
- tricksDeceptive acts or techniques
high jinks · monkeyshines · roguery · larks · hijinks · capers · skylarking · troublemaking
Mildly disobedient
- acting upBehaving badly or failing
- tantrumsOutbursts of childish anger
- brattinessSpoiled, demanding behavior
- cheekinessLighthearted disrespect
impishness · rascal · scamp · unruliness · sulking · whining · disobedience · talking back
Improper professional behavior
- wrongdoingUnethical or illegal action
- improprietyUnsuitable or inappropriate behavior
- unrulyDifficult to control
- disorderlyNot arranged neatly
disrespectful · inappropriate · unacceptable · disruptive · offensive · unethical · unprofessional · indecorous
Defying workplace authority
- defianceOpen resistance to authority
- noncomplianceFailure to follow requirements
- recalcitranceStubborn refusal to obey
- disregardWillful lack of attention
unruliness · willfulness · disrespect · insolence · backtalk · obstinacy · contrariness · refusal
pranks
Playful mischievous acts
- shenanigansMischievous or deceitful behavior
- tomfooleryFoolish or silly behavior
- anticsAbsurd, attention-seeking behavior
tricks · high jinks · monkeyshines · roguery · larks · hijinks · capers · skylarking · troublemaking · horseplay
naughty
Mildly disobedient
- acting upBehaving badly or failing
- tantrumsOutbursts of childish anger
- brattinessSpoiled, demanding behavior
cheekiness · impishness · rascal · scamp · unruliness · sulking · whining · disobedience · talking back · attention-seeking
misconduct
Improper professional behavior
- wrongdoingUnethical or illegal action
- improprietyUnsuitable or inappropriate behavior
- unrulyDifficult to control
disorderly · disrespectful · inappropriate · unacceptable · disruptive · offensive · unethical · unprofessional · indecorous · unseemly
insubordination
Defying workplace authority
- defianceOpen resistance to authority
- noncomplianceFailure to follow requirements
- recalcitranceStubborn refusal to obey
disregard · unruliness · willfulness · disrespect · insolence · backtalk · obstinacy · contrariness · refusal · rebellion
misbehaviourgood behaviour
good conduct · propriety · decorum · good manners · respectfulness
misbehaviourvirtue
Moral goodness or merit
righteousness · rectitude · uprightness · moral conduct · probity
misbehaviourobedience
Compliance with authority
compliance · discipline · conformity · orderliness · submissiveness