1
2
as in to trim
to make neat
a directive for everyone to straighten up their cubicle in preparation for a visit from some corporate VIPs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straighten (up or out)
Verb
-
The new commissioner faces the daunting task of improving the existing jail while planning for a world without it.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026 -
Jonathan Bond finished with five saves for Houston (6-5-0), which improved to 2-3-1 on the road.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Cut off and discard the leaves, then remove any brown spots and trim the ends.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
14 May 2026
-
The rising cost of fuel and groceries has trimmed their choices to the necessities.—
Marvin Hurst,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
In that way, the race seems to be shaping up as less a competition than a self-fulfilling prophecy.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2026
-
Critics say event ‘hijacked’ by Christian nationalism Critics say Rededicate 250 is shaping up to promote Christian nationalism — whose adherents typically believe that the United States was founded as and should be a Christian nation.—
Peter Smith,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Her team quickly put together a plan to help coördinate repairs, secure new electrical generators, implement a triage system, and organize trainings for staff.—
Clayton Dalton,
New Yorker,
15 May 2026
-
Certain lower-risk administrative technologies are expressly excluded, including spreadsheets requiring human analysis, workflow management and routing tools, and systems that simply organize or summarize information without generating predictions or inferences.—
Alonzo Martinez,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Much more likely is that the Virginia Democrats will have to try again in the next election cycle with another vote to amend the state constitution and another referendum to try to get voters to draw a more aggressive map.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
15 May 2026
-
According to a report from the National Conference of State Legislatures, lawmakers in at least 28 of the states with tax incentives have introduced proposals to substantially amend the existing tax breaks.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
This created a plasma that behaves like an oscillating mirror, and subsequent lasers hitting it are like hitting a mirror moving toward you at nearly the speed of light.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
14 May 2026
-
The cycle is iterative and ongoing, shaped less by isolated milestones and more by how systems behave over time.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Soon, survey crews showed up, bulldozers were spotted along dusty roads, and the Army Corps of Engineers arranged private meetings.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
-
The spa There’s no spa, but morning yoga and pilates classes are hosted on the rooftop and the hotel can help arrange in-room massage treatments.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Morton also went 3-2 as a starter in the playoffs with the Cowboys and 5-5 for his career, matching White (5-5) and bettering Romo (2-4), Prescott (2-5) and Meredith (1-3).—
Jim Barnes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 May 2026
-
Her 13th place there is unlikely to be bettered at the real thing.—
Jon O'Brien,
Vulture,
11 May 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.
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 16 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
