as in to unbend
to cause to follow a line that is without bends or curls
straighten that extension cord—it should be just long enough to reach the wall outlet
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Recent Examples of straighten
Her partner, Larry Steele, came down the stairs in a tux, and Carter straightened his bow tie.
—
Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2026
Make sure the tires reconnect with the road - During the skid, wait until the tires reconnect with the road and then gently straighten the wheels to regain control.
—Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Mar. 2026
Make sure the tires reconnect with the road - During the skid, wait until the tires reconnect with the road and then gently straighten the wheels to regain control.
—Kansas City Star Weather Bot, Kansas City Star, 10 Mar. 2026
Aguilera updated the hairdo for her Instagram photoshoot, wearing it fully straightened with piece-y fringe.
—Hannah Malach, InStyle, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for straighten
Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2026
Make sure the tires reconnect with the road - During the skid, wait until the tires reconnect with the road and then gently straighten the wheels to regain control.
—Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Mar. 2026
Make sure the tires reconnect with the road - During the skid, wait until the tires reconnect with the road and then gently straighten the wheels to regain control.
—Kansas City Star Weather Bot, Kansas City Star, 10 Mar. 2026
Aguilera updated the hairdo for her Instagram photoshoot, wearing it fully straightened with piece-y fringe.
—Hannah Malach, InStyle, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for straighten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straighten
Verb
-
While rigid machines, vehicles, and robots made of unbending steel, plastic, and composite materials are ideal for most contemporary manufacturing, transport and combat needs, other tasks require far greater flexibility, such as that which animals possess.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
23 Dec. 2025
-
Without unbending her back, the mother arranges her mouth into a placid line.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
One fall day in 1856, a family of Eastern gray squirrels in rural New York uncurled from a cozy nest in a chestnut tree, looked around, and joined half a billion other squirrels on a multi-state walkabout.—
Christine Peterson,
Vox,
23 Dec. 2024
-
Exhale, lower the bridge down, then uncurl the trunk to bring the right hip and shoulder back to the ground.—
Jen Murphy,
WSJ,
16 June 2022
Cite this Entry
“Straighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straighten. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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