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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for straighten (up or out)
Verb
  • The Knicks improved to 4-0 in closeout opportunities this season, winning them all on the road.
    Tim Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2026
  • Parents and beauty enthusiasts alike praise its ability to smooth stubborn bumps and improve skin texture.
    Cheryl Fenton, Parents, 14 June 2026
Verb
  • Puff sleeves, a scalloped hem, lace trim, and eyelet detailing give this top a soft, feminine edge.
    Jill Layton, PEOPLE, 19 June 2026
  • Jacob Wilson's two-run single trimmed it to 7-2 in the sixth before the Pirates tacked on five more in the seventh.
    ABC News, ABC News, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • Season 3 does not appear to be shaping up all that much better, as of yet.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
  • Otherwise, the weekend is shaping up to be beautiful.
    Andrew Kozak, CBS News, 17 June 2026
Verb
  • Michelle Amores, a division manager for the San Jose Public Library who helped organize the celebration, spoke to the community’s enduring spirit.
    Ryan Macasero, Mercury News, 13 June 2026
  • The Shanghai Remakes event, organized by Spain’s Institute of Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts (ICAA), will see each company talk up the Asian market remake potential of their title for 10 minutes.
    John Hopewell, Variety, 12 June 2026
Verb
  • The town moved to amend its zoning regulations to allow for greater flexibility for those who want to convert older office properties into residential or mixed-use redevelopments, with Greenberg a vocal proponent of the changes.
    Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2026
  • The buyer—identified in the document as Sunrise North LLC—gets an irrevocable power of attorney authorizing it to pursue claims in the athlete’s name, settle claims, amend claim forms and take other actions related to recovery.
    Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 17 June 2026
Verb
  • Angelina Guatemala, 64, counted on federal food stamps after retiring a couple of years ago in Ogden, Kansas, from assorted jobs arranging flowers, decorating cakes in shops, and preparing meals.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 19 June 2026
  • How to Make Homemade Croutons In the Oven Preheat the oven to 450°F and arrange the rack in the middle position.
    Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • Dose, absorption and your own physiology all change how phytic acid behaves in the body.
    Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 June 2026
  • Scientists note that larger oral doses may behave differently, and more research is needed to understand how phytic acid affects mineral availability at the tissue level.
    Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • Good job, well done After 21 years of working to better the village’s economic picture, Sandra Zoellner, Park Forest’s director of economic development and planning, was the center of attention in a farewell tribute last Friday in Village Hall.
    Jerry Shnay, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2026
  • Overall, Hungary scored 25 goals in their four matches en route to the final, with Kocsis’ 11 for the tournament only bettered by France’s Just Fontaine’s 13 in 1958.
    Will Jeanes, New York Times, 5 June 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.

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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 19 Jun. 2026.

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