straighten (up or out)

1
as in to improve
to change one's behavior or character for the better I hope that rehab will help her straighten up for good

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for straighten (up or out)
Verb
  • Following Monday night’s win over the Portland Trail Blazers, the Los Angeles Lakers improved to 6-2, tying for second place in the Western Conference.
    Cole Sullivan, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
  • One way the company is hoping to improve performance is by lowering the inventory.
    Ricardo Torres, jsonline.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Fears aired an alley-oop dunk to forward Carson Cooper on the next play, the first score of the second half, to trim Arkansas’ lead to 39-38.
    Matt Byrne, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2025
  • The key is to fold the scarf over itself to create volume and to look for a lace trim that leaves the hem frayed, so as not to look too formal.
    Arancha Gamo, Glamour, 9 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Dowdle had just rumbled into the end zone for his second touchdown of what was shaping up to be a great day.
    DIAMOND VENCES, Charlotte Observer, 6 Nov. 2025
  • The medical costs are shaping up to be significant.
    Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • According to Blair, the two members on shift would often organize alternative sleeping rotas that left just one individual with a straightforward password and all the power.
    Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
  • The exhibit is co-organized by the American Federation of Arts and the Rembrandt House Museum in Amsterdam.
    Susan B. Barnes, Southern Living, 9 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • On Tuesday, New Yorkers voted to pass three housing ballot proposals to amend the city’s charter, streamlining the approvals process for several types of developments.
    Kim Velsey, Curbed, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Advertisement On the Democratic side, Virginia’s legislature has begun the complicated process of working to amend the state constitution to enable redistricting.
    Solcyré Burga, Time, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Gabbard denied behaving improperly and suggested the accusations were politically motivated.
    Victoria Moorwood, Cincinnati Enquirer, 5 Nov. 2025
  • But in the lobby, not everyone behaves well.
    Jessica Neal, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The goal of the program, arranged through the hotel concierge, is to encourage discovery of the soul of an area through bold design, local culture, and meaningful connections.
    Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Insofar as it is left to the invisible hand to arrange these matters, this scenario seems truly unavoidable.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Fleeing crowded Eastern cities, Americans sought to better their lives and, in the process, transformed the young nation.
    Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Even in very difficult circumstances, there was always this feeling of optimism, of belief in being able to better our world.
    Kathleen Rellihan, Outside, 22 Oct. 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Straighten (up or out).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straighten%20%28up%20or%20out%29. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.

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