Definition of conductnext
1
2
as in to direct
to cause to move to a central point or along a restricted pathway the gutter conducts water to the curb, thus protecting the house's basement

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4
as in to steer
to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front a job conducting tourists through the historical museum

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5

Synonym Chooser

How is the word conduct distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of conduct are control, direct, and manage. While all these words mean "to use one's powers to lead, guide, or dominate," conduct implies taking responsibility for the acts and achievements of a group.

conducted negotiations

In what contexts can control take the place of conduct?

The meanings of control and conduct largely overlap; however, control implies a regulating or restraining in order to keep within bounds or on a course.

controlling his appetite

When might direct be a better fit than conduct?

While in some cases nearly identical to conduct, direct implies constant guiding and regulating so as to achieve smooth operation.

directs the store's day-to-day business

When can manage be used instead of conduct?

The words manage and conduct can be used in similar contexts, but manage implies direct handling and manipulating or maneuvering toward a desired result.

manages a meat market

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of conduct
Verb
The department’s Marine Unit was conducting routine patrol when the call came in, police said. Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 31 Aug. 2026 Scientists have conducted dives to collect samples and test the region to determine the extent of the pollution and whether the radioactivity has made its way into the food web. Devika Rao, TheWeek, 31 Aug. 2026
Noun
Asked why the public should trust internal auditing as an adequate replacement for public oversight, given that many agencies allowed their own officers’ conduct to go unchecked for years, Flock did not respond. Kenny Jacoby, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026 Authorities cited the department’s General Order 25, which addresses rules of conduct, but has not elaborated, WSOC reported. Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for conduct
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conduct
Verb
  • While not directly involved in controlling the system, humans give Spike rules of engagement all the while, supervising the entire system during operation.
    Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Weerasethakul supervised the 4K restorations, which include remastered and remixed audio and new key art for each film.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Meanwhile, in the team’s experiments, nearly 80 percent of the heat generated by the plasma was directed into cement production.
    Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Katy Rudd is set to direct with set and costume designs by Tony-winning Rob Howell (Matilda the Musical) and choreography from Ellen Kane.
    Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Search for jet quenching Previous experiments suggest that a millionth of a second after the Big Bang, even as temperatures remained extremely high, matter did not behave like gas but instead like liquid with very low viscosity.
    Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The denim industry does not necessarily need another product that behaves exactly like PP.
    Alice Tonello, Footwear News, 31 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • A lot of marquee names from the last hiring cycle are just now settling into their new digs, so some of these once-proud programs might have to find their next captain to steer the ship from some unlikely places.
    Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Even last season, Moyes headed into the campaign with the immediate aim of quickly steering the side away from another scrap at the wrong end of the table.
    Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • However, experts told CNBC that a natural time lag exists when price changes transmit from crude oil to retail gasoline.
    , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The institute said malaria in Germany almost exclusively affects long-haul travelers who were infected in malaria-endemic areas, and that malaria transmitted within a German airport is rare, the BBC reported.
    CBS News, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Another win was with a European car maker that replaced its next-gen Endpoint Detection and Response, legacy SIEM, and legacy vulnerability management product with an eight-figure net-new Falcon Flex.
    Jeff Marks, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Florida is launching a new initiative to encourage more students to choose careers in emergency management, which the governor announced a week after a shakeup in leadership at the state’s Department of Emergency Management.
    Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • King was the same person before and after, even if her behaviors became less mysterious.
    Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
  • If a maxxing trend encourages awareness of healthy behavior, that can be genuinely useful.
    Jennifer Donnelly, Scientific American, 30 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The agreement had been offered last year and accepted by the official who oversees the Pentagon's Guantanamo war court, only to be revoked last August by then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin amid criticism of the deal from Republican lawmakers.
    Steve Gorman, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Malone joined OpenAI in 2025 to help oversee its data-center buildout, including work connected to the company’s Stargate infrastructure plans.
    Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Conduct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conduct. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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