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
  • This helps improve posture and stability, according to the brand, though the sneakers have an ergonomic insole that provides arch support, too.
    Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
  • The report calls on leaders to focus on green solutions that can also improve health outcomes, and warns that political backsliding on climate commitments will only cause more harm.
    Simmone Shah, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • To prune overgrown blueberry bushes, trim half of the oldest canes down to the ground to encourage new branches to grow.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Adams’ Exit Narrows the Field After Mayor Eric Adams dropped out of the race, much of his support appeared to transfer to Cuomo, trimming Mamdani’s lead.
    Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Even better, 2026 is shaping up to be a fantastic time to visit one of the international Disney theme parks.
    Megan duBois, USA Today, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Throw in an attempt to help part of Illinois secede and join the Hoosier state and visits from everyone from Tucker Carlson to JD Vance, and 2025 has shaped up to be quite a barn burner.
    Hayleigh Colombo, IndyStar, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Bessent, who specialized in foreign exchange in a decades-long hedge fund career, organized a $20 billion foreign-exchange swap with Argentina’s central bank earlier this month — an unusual structure that bypassed the US Federal Reserve, which is typically the lead party in such arrangements.
    Daniel Flatley, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Alani organized a letter signed by more than 300 former IDS staffers asking for the IU Student Publications Alumni Board to be included in conversations about the IDS's future.
    Cate Charron, IndyStar, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Its authority to investigate stems from Senate Bill 553, which requires employers to maintain workplace violence prevention plans, and was amended to apply more generally to various industries, including law enforcement.
    Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Those charges, however, were amended when prosecutors filed superseding indictments in both cases in early September.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Tourist attractions remain open, but visitors are asked to dress modestly and behave respectfully during the mourning period.
    Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 30 Oct. 2025
  • That’s how leaders are behaving right now.
    Fortune Editors, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • There were also individual, isolated nests, which were typically larger than any that were arranged in a specific shape, according to the study.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
  • To make matters worse, none of the wedding flowers had been purchased or arranged.
    Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • And as the generative AI tech keeps bettering itself, the Presenter gets more and more convincing, daily.
    Jake Kanter, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2025
  • When to harvest before a hard freeze hits Ideally, these crops will only be allowed to be exposed to one or two light frosts to better their flavors without pushing the plants too far.
    Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 18 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 31 Oct. 2025.

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