as in to trim
to make neat
neatened the living room in anticipation of company
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Recent Examples of neaten
Several people milled around, neatening the area, touching up Cage’s makeup.
—
Susan Orlean, New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2025
To neaten up the drawer, use clear or white plastic magazine or file holders nestled side by side to hold boxes and packages of frozen foods.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 23 June 2025
Hydrangeas that only bloom on the current year's fresh, green growth (also referred to as new wood) should be neatened up or cut back in early spring, well before the arrival of summer.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 24 May 2025
Use a curl-specific hair gel to neaten and smooth each side, applying a small amount down each section to be twisted.
—Dory Zayas, Parents, 26 July 2024
Fringes usually require neatening up every two to three weeks, and helpfully, many hairdressers offer free fringe trims in between salon visits.
—Jacqueline Kilikita, refinery29.com, 3 June 2024
But trimmers do more than neaten up.
—Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 20 Mar. 2023
Susan Orlean, New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2025
To neaten up the drawer, use clear or white plastic magazine or file holders nestled side by side to hold boxes and packages of frozen foods.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 23 June 2025
Hydrangeas that only bloom on the current year's fresh, green growth (also referred to as new wood) should be neatened up or cut back in early spring, well before the arrival of summer.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 24 May 2025
Use a curl-specific hair gel to neaten and smooth each side, applying a small amount down each section to be twisted.
—Dory Zayas, Parents, 26 July 2024
Fringes usually require neatening up every two to three weeks, and helpfully, many hairdressers offer free fringe trims in between salon visits.
—Jacqueline Kilikita, refinery29.com, 3 June 2024
But trimmers do more than neaten up.
—Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 20 Mar. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for neaten
Verb
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To prune overgrown blueberry bushes, trim half of the oldest canes down to the ground to encourage new branches to grow.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
26 Oct. 2025
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Adams’ Exit Narrows the Field After Mayor Eric Adams dropped out of the race, much of his support appeared to transfer to Cuomo, trimming Mamdani’s lead.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Bessent, who specialized in foreign exchange in a decades-long hedge fund career, organized a $20 billion foreign-exchange swap with Argentina’s central bank earlier this month — an unusual structure that bypassed the US Federal Reserve, which is typically the lead party in such arrangements.—
Daniel Flatley,
Fortune,
27 Oct. 2025
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Alani organized a letter signed by more than 300 former IDS staffers asking for the IU Student Publications Alumni Board to be included in conversations about the IDS's future.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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There, McIlroy was seen posing for photos with several of his trophies arranged on the basalt rocks, paying tribute to a season that many consider his most meaningful of all time.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
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Victoria Goodwin was sentenced to prison in May for arranging the plot with a Florida inmate.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Neaten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/neaten. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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