A good conducted synonym depends on what was done: carried out, performed, ran, held and led fit most sentences. Researchers carry out surveys, managers hold meetings, and guides lead visitors through a museum, so one verb rarely covers every case.
This page sorts each conduct synonym by sense, shows how formal it sounds and gives you before and after sentences. It also covers the noun, as in a code of conduct, and the reflexive use, as in how you conduct yourself at work.
Swatch at a glance
Best swaps
carried out, performed, ran, held, ledPart of speech
Verb (conduct, conducted, conducting) and noun (conduct)Most formal
undertook, administered, convenedMost casual
did, ran, put onNoun swaps
behavior, manners, actions, managementWatch out
Executed suits plans and orders. For people, it means killed, so never write executed the staff.Word forms covered
conduct, conducts, conducted, conducting
Each conducted synonym, sorted by what you did
Ask yourself what the subject actually did. The answer points to the right group.
| Situation | Best swaps | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Research, tests, checks | carried out, performed, ran, undertook | The lab ran three trials. |
| Meetings, events, ceremonies | held, hosted, staged, chaired | The club hosted a quiz night. |
| A business or department | managed, directed, oversaw | She oversaw the sales team. |
| Taking people somewhere | guided, escorted, showed | A ranger guided us to the falls. |
| Electricity or heat | transmitted, carried | Copper carries current well. |
How formal is each word
Our five colored chips climb from relaxed wording to stiff wording. Did is plain and fine in speech. Ran sounds friendly and active. Carried out sits in the neutral middle and suits reports. Performed adds a sense of skill or procedure, which is why doctors perform surgery. Undertook feels the stiffest of the five and hints at a large or demanding task.
In a lab report or thesis, carried out and performed are the usual picks. In a team update, ran or did keeps the tone relaxed.
Rewriting conducted in everyday sentences
- We conducted a survey of 200 parents becomes we carried out a survey of 200 parents.
- The council conducted a public meeting becomes the council held a public meeting.
- HR conducted the interviews becomes HR ran the interviews.
- The nurse conducted a blood test becomes the nurse did a blood test.
- She conducted the visitors to the hall becomes she showed the visitors to the hall.
- He conducted himself well under pressure becomes he handled himself well under pressure.
A methods paragraph reads: "We conducted interviews, then conducted a follow-up survey." Changing the second verb removes the echo: "We carried out interviews, then ran a short follow-up survey."
Conducting yourself: words for behavior
When conduct is reflexive, it means how a person behaves. Behaved is the everyday swap. Acted works but can hint at pretending. Carried yourself focuses on posture and confidence, and comported yourself is formal and a little old-fashioned.
As a noun, conduct becomes behavior, manners, actions or demeanor. A code of conduct can also be called a set of rules or a code of practice.
Conducts, conducting and the noun
The other forms follow the same pattern. For conducts, use carries out, runs or holds: the firm runs yearly audits. For conducting, try carrying out, running or leading: she is leading the review. In music, conducting an orchestra has no exact swap, though leading or directing the orchestra comes close.
For the noun, management fits business use (the conduct of the inquiry becomes the handling of the inquiry), while behavior fits people.
Mistakes to avoid
Executed is fine for a plan but alarming for a person. Made works with some nouns (made a phone call, made inquiries) but not with research. Organized means you arranged the event, not that you ran it on the day. Led implies being in charge, so use it only if the subject was the leader.
For more verbs with energy, browse the action verbs hub or the page on handle synonyms.
Opposites of conducted
Conduct has no single opposite, but a few words reverse the idea of doing something properly. Neglected and ignored mean the task was left undone. Abandoned and dropped mean it was started then stopped. Mishandled means it was done badly.
- The audit was dropped after one week.
- The case was badly mishandled.
Frequently asked questions
Which conducted synonym sounds most formal?
Undertook, performed and administered are the most formal. Undertook suits large projects, performed suits procedures, and administered suits tests or surveys given to people.
How do I avoid writing conducted research twice?
Carried out research is the most common swap. You can also write performed a study, ran experiments or undertook a review, depending on the type of work.
Is held a good synonym for conducted?
Yes, for meetings, events, elections and interviews. It does not fit studies or tests, so write held a vote but ran a test.
What is another word for conducted interviews?
Ran, held or carried out interviews all work. In a resume, led interviews shows you were in charge of the process.
What does conduct yourself mean?
It means how you behave, especially in public or at work. Behave and carry yourself are simpler ways to say it.
Which nouns can replace conduct?
As a noun, conduct means behavior or the way something is managed. Behavior, actions and manners fit people, and management fits organizations.