as in edict
a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned
I only made the change at the author's behest
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Recent Examples of behest
Circumstantial evidence, such as clothing, and DNA testing at the behest of his family positively identified the remains as those of Andrews in 2024.
—
Brett Barrouquere, Arkansas Online, 26 May 2025
At Cruise’s behest, McQuarrie’s stunts imitate the most primitive filmmaking — not the awe-inspiring magic of Georges Méliès but the Lumière brothers’ rudimentary documentation of action.
—Armond White, National Review, 23 May 2025
Treasure hunter Luke Purdue (John Krasinski) and his team attempt to locate the fountain at the behest (and budget) of billionaire Owen Carver (Domhnall Gleeson).
—EW.com, 23 May 2025
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who has convened yet another lab-leak investigation at Trump’s behest (after many other intelligence assessments led to split results), could only dance around the matter in an interview with Megyn Kelly earlier this month.
—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for behest
Brett Barrouquere, Arkansas Online, 26 May 2025
At Cruise’s behest, McQuarrie’s stunts imitate the most primitive filmmaking — not the awe-inspiring magic of Georges Méliès but the Lumière brothers’ rudimentary documentation of action.
—Armond White, National Review, 23 May 2025
Treasure hunter Luke Purdue (John Krasinski) and his team attempt to locate the fountain at the behest (and budget) of billionaire Owen Carver (Domhnall Gleeson).
—EW.com, 23 May 2025
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who has convened yet another lab-leak investigation at Trump’s behest (after many other intelligence assessments led to split results), could only dance around the matter in an interview with Megyn Kelly earlier this month.
—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for behest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for behest
Noun
-
Even states seen as safer for LGBTQ+ people have been navigating these edicts around trans athletes.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
3 June 2025
-
The edict: get as many AI features into the operating system as possible.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
19 May 2025
Noun
-
The only instructions for the theater audience that night will be to get their butts in the seats before curtain.—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
6 June 2025
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Residents were advised to heed official warnings throughout the severe weather cycle and stay alert for any additional storm advisories or emergency instructions.—
Barney Henderson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 June 2025
Noun
-
SpaceX got the official launch order on March 7, meaning all the prep work was completed in less than three months.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
30 May 2025
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View the official order and corresponding map here.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
30 May 2025
Noun
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His regular-season numbers are astonishing, but so are his postseason stats… in the opposite direction.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
7 June 2025
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Holden praised Indicator, citing their focused direction and curation.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
7 June 2025
Noun
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The transgender junior from Jurupa Valley High School — who competed despite a directive from Trump that she be barred from doing so — won state titles in the girls’ triple jump and the girls’ high jump and took second place in the girls’ long jump.—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2025
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The guidance change blindsided the CDC, which did not receive a directive to alter its recommendations until hours after Kennedy's video posted.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 May 2025
Noun
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The five departing schools could seek an injunction preventing the other seven from making decisions that impact them for 2025-26, their last year in the conference.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 June 2025
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Related Stories Judge James C. Chalfant issued a ruling Wednesday denying Disney’s motion for an injunction after a hearing in the matter earlier in the day.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
4 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Behest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/behest. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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