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

2

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for straighten (up or out)
Verb
  • The law also updates the definition of infertility to be more inclusive and aims to improve access to fertility care for everyone — including members of the LGBTQ+ community.
    Angela Rodriguez, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2025
  • Some have also taken the opportunity to caution that both the Israeli and UK governments need to do more to end the killing in Gaza and improve the humanitarian situation.
    Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • Some might have trimmed guest lists — not for space, but to cut the grocery bill.
    Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 July 2025
  • The hue of your walls, trim, and ceiling can either clash or complement your upholstery, drapery, and art.
    Tessa Cooper, Southern Living, 2 July 2025
Verb
  • The layoffs extend what is shaping up as a rough 2025 for the tech industry in the Bay Area.
    George Avalos, Mercury News, 25 June 2025
  • That trade is likely just the beginning of what's shaping up to be a wild few weeks — and things could really kick off tonight during the first round of the NBA Draft.
    Ricardo Klein, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • Lucile Bluford Day in KC The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated - Beta Omega Chapter is organizing events in honor of Bluford on Tuesday at the Kansas City Public Library.
    Ramal Nasim, Kansas City Star, 30 June 2025
  • Turing patterns explain how groups of cells can organize themselves into distinct organs and limbs.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • Already, some of the challengers to Mr. Trump's birthright citizenship policy have amended or filed new lawsuits as class-actions.
    Melissa Quinn July 9, CBS News, 9 July 2025
  • The Act would have amended the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act of 1994, a law that amended the Truth in Lending Act of 1968.
    Norbert Michel, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
Verb
  • An aside: phosphorylation is when a tiny chemical group called a phosphate is added to a protein, such as tau, which is like adding a switch to change how the protein behaves.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 June 2025
  • Yet, but Buyers Are Gaining Power For Hale, the recent shifts in the U.S. housing market signals that the country is moving in favor of buyers—and under certain aspects is already behaving more like a buyer's market than a seller's one.
    Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 June 2025
Verb
  • According to El País, Leyva traveled to the U.S. in April and tried to arrange meetings with high-profile Republicans including Florida U.S. Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
    Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 30 June 2025
  • Similar to a puzzle, the goal is for kids to arrange the strings in a way that fits within the board’s pattern.
    Laura Lu, Parents, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • Brazilian dystopian series 3% is another show that follows people who are struggling financially and enter a competition to better their lives.
    Skyler Trepel, People.com, 30 June 2025
  • Kate Hudson considered being emancipated from her parents, Goldie Hawn and Bill Hudson, to better her Hollywood career.
    Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 28 June 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 14 Jul. 2025.

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