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
Another time, Albini called Gene Simmons at Cobain’s behest and pretended to be the singer.
—
Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 20 Apr. 2026
Notably, the weekend psychedelics push came at the behest of influential podcaster Joe Rogan — who offered him a large audience ahead of the 2024 election — and leaders of the Make America Healthy Again movement, part of the White House’s unorthodox political coalition.
—Daniel Payne, STAT, 18 Apr. 2026
As his release approaches, an inmate informs Josh that he's located Lindsay at Josh's behest, but she's moved to the countryside and is remarried.
—Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
The only time Eszterhas ever came close to directing came at the behest of Steven Spielberg on an extremely unlikely would-be collaboration.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for behest
Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 20 Apr. 2026
Notably, the weekend psychedelics push came at the behest of influential podcaster Joe Rogan — who offered him a large audience ahead of the 2024 election — and leaders of the Make America Healthy Again movement, part of the White House’s unorthodox political coalition.
—Daniel Payne, STAT, 18 Apr. 2026
As his release approaches, an inmate informs Josh that he's located Lindsay at Josh's behest, but she's moved to the countryside and is remarried.
—Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
The only time Eszterhas ever came close to directing came at the behest of Steven Spielberg on an extremely unlikely would-be collaboration.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for behest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for behest
Noun
-
While many edicts are necessary to protect public safety, many more are redundant, wasteful and anti-competitive, piling on unnecessary costs and stymieing innovation.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
18 Apr. 2026
-
But that edict died with him, Vaez said.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Gukesh’s calm at the board was buttressed by an unusual focus in his training, on psychology, alongside the more traditional tactical and strategic instruction.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
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Start with a fertilizer program of once in March, May and October using an 8-0-12-4Mg for palms developed by the University of Florida following label instructions.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Crews made fast work of a 10-acre fire that erupted in brush in the vicinity of the SoCal Sports complex and Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, briefly prompting an order that people in the area shelter in place Friday.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
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About a decade ago the artist Paul Chan (no relation) began affixing fans to the bases of humanoid sculptures, made from cylindrical nylon tubes, in order to animate them.—
Dawn Chan,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Sixers’ Nick Nurse is widely believed to be under pressure too, meaning Sunday’s loss to Boston, which put them in a 3-1 hole, qualifies as a step in the wrong direction.—
Sam Amick,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
As the Moon moves through your 11th House of Friends, collaboration brings fresh direction.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Pentagon In a letter sent to the GAO in March, Merkley and the other lawmakers alleged the DOJ did not comply with the law's directive to protect victims while releasing the Epstein files.—
Justin Papp,
CNBC,
28 Apr. 2026
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Their directive is 100 percent positivity — pure Paula Abdul energy, without a grain of Simon salt in any of their shakers.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In a preliminary injunction, Judge Robert Pitman stopped short of ordering a temporary air conditioning remedy.—
Leigh Waldman,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026
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The government said in responding court documents that all necessary reviews were conducted and the plaintiffs' claims did not demonstrate a preliminary injunction would be in the public interest.—
Cara Tabachnick,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Behest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/behest. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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