neatening

verb

present participle of neaten
as in trimming
to make neat neatened the living room in anticipation of company

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 neatening If your shrub is mostly dead at the bottom, try shaping it into an attractive tree form by removing lower limbs and neatening the top. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 25 Apr. 2026 Several people milled around, neatening the area, touching up Cage’s makeup. — Susan Orlean, New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for neatening
  1. trimming
  2. organizing
  3. arranging
Verb
  • In the most recent two years, the Democrat believed the county was cutting into bone rather than trimming fat.
    — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Sep. 2026
  • That means inspecting flood control and drainage systems, trimming trees that could knock down power lines during high winds, and reinforcing or maintaining infrastructure such as dams, stormwater channels, roads and bridges.
    — Bethany Tietjen, The Conversation, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of trimming
Verb
  • Centuries before officers appeared in uniform, posing as neutral criminologists, policing developed as a method of organizing society.
    — Sophie Landres, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • This development also signals the ongoing momentum of VFX professionals organizing for fair wages, sustainable benefits, safer working conditions, and a meaningful voice at work.
    — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of organizing
Verb
  • Their attention to detail in the studio when arranging each member’s parts was like witnessing true geniuses at work.
    — Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 24 Sep. 2026
  • In a clip first shared with Entertainment Weekly, the Oscar-winning filmmaker recalls arranging an appearance on Judge Judy involving the whole Spielberg clan — a 90th birthday gift to his late mother, Leah Adler, a huge fan of Sheindlin’s.
    — Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of arranging

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neatened
neatening
neatens
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Cite this Entry

“Neatening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/neatening. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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