straighten (up or out)

Definition of straighten (up or out)next
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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for straighten (up or out)
Verb
  • Kiki Rice had 17 points and seven assists and Lauren Betts scored 16 points as the Bruins (21-1, 11-0 Big Ten) remained the only undefeated team in conference play while improving to 10-0 at home.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Feb. 2026
  • Next, the researchers aim to improve their technique further, with the goal of predicting not only when solar activity will intensify, but also where on the sun’s surface active regions are likely to form.
    Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 1 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The Federal Reserve, in an attempt to shore up a softening labor market, trimmed its benchmark lending rate by a quarter-point three straight times at the end of last year.
    Matt Ott, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
  • The Black Edition has black all over, including the body, trim, 18-inch alloy wheels, skidplate, and grille—and even black glass, almost, or privacy glass.
    Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • And 2026 is shaping up to be the year to go.
    Laura Begley Bloom, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Big Sky, Montana This year is shaping up to be a banner one for Big Sky, a 5,850-acre resort (America’s second largest behind Park City) awash with steeps, trees, bumps, and a gnarly triple black diamond run called Big Couloir, which drops more than 1,400 feet with a sustained pitch of 50 degrees.
    Amy Tara Koch, Robb Report, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Mountbatten-Windsor's name appears at least several hundred times in the documents, sometimes in news clippings, sometimes in Epstein's private email correspondence and in guest lists for dinners organized by Epstein.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 31 Jan. 2026
  • Early cash is seen as important for advertising and organizing ahead of the general election.
    Joseph Morton, Dallas Morning News, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • But with the June primary ballot deadline rapidly approaching, the delay likely nixes the possibility of the city amending its own tax before a possible statewide measure goes before voters.
    CalMatters, Oc Register, 29 Jan. 2026
  • So Two Roads used its majority vote to amend the document and change the declaration’s rules about termination.
    Catherine Odom January 29, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Coming from both the Sun and also omnidirectionally from elsewhere across the Universe, these cosmic rays all behaved the same way normal particles do on Earth, except were at significantly greater energies.
    Big Think, Big Think, 30 Jan. 2026
  • This planning capability allows robots to behave less reactively and more strategically when faced with complex tasks.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The company has also arranged software escrow agreements in the US and Germany.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Her shining brown curls are carefully arranged each morning, tied up with pink ribbon, festooned with flowers.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Abramovich then opened new businesses in Anadyr and set about spending more of his own money on bettering the lives of local residents.
    Ian Frazier, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
  • Many of my small business clients are trying to figure out how to use AI to better their businesses.
    Gene Marks, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026
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.

Browse Nearby Words

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 2 Feb. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!