reform

1 to make better in behavior or character volunteers at a camp that tries to reform troubled youths Synonyms habilitate, reclaim, redeem, regenerate, rehabilitate Related Words reeducate; amend, improve, refine; cleanse, purify, restore Near Antonyms abase, canker, corrupt, debauch, degrade, demean, demoralize, deprave, lower, pervert, poison, profane, prostitute, subvert, warp

2 to change one's behavior or character for the better an alcoholic who's been trying to reform ever since he was arrested for drunk driving Synonyms amend, mend, shape up, straighten (up or out) Related Words behave, regenerate; better, improve Phrases clean up one's act Near Antonyms backslide, regress

3 to remove errors, defects, deficiencies, or deviations from he had better reform his ways if he wants any of us to trust him Synonyms amend, debug, emend, rectify, red-pencil, correct, remedyRelated Words redraft, redraw, restyle, revise, rework, rewrite; blue-pencil, cut, shorten; redress, right; ameliorate, better, improve; perfect, polish, touch up; fix, mend, repair; adjust, modulate, regulate; alter, change, modifyNear Antonyms damage, harm, hurt, impair, injure, mar, spoil; aggravate, worsen