straighten (up or out)

verb

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
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)
  1. improve
  2. trim
  3. shape up
  4. organize
  5. amend
  6. arrange
  7. behave
  8. better
Verb
  • With the aim of producing an addition 200,000 degrees beyond the 1 million already projected for 2030, the university set goals to improve its graduation rates.
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 22 July 2026
  • Given the tools on show in the macOS beta closely match those on iOS, coupled with Apple’s push to unify as many of its operating system features, there will be some cross-platform data to improve this part of Siri AI.
    — Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of improve
Verb
  • The Halos trimmed the deficit to 6-2 in the bottom of the fifth when Vaughn Grissom singled and Denzer Guzman drove an opposite-field, two-run homer to right-center, his fifth of the season.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Three-year programs typically work by reducing the credit requirement from 120 down to 90 or 100, largely by trimming general education requirements, open electives, and the room for a double major or a semester abroad.
    — Christopher Rim, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of trim
Verb
  • But a gold rush is shaping up to profit from new workarounds to the Strait of Hormuz.
    — Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 30 July 2026
  • Friday’s Bank of Japan decision is shaping up to be the most consequential moment of Governor Kazuo Ueda’s tenure — and a defining fork in the economic path.
    — William Pesek, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of shape up
Verb
  • Nvidia organized this letter and also owns CUDA, the proprietary software layer that makes its hardware genuinely hard to leave.
    — Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
  • That conversation led her to create her own employment application, organize hiring events and interview prospective employees.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 26 July 2026
Definition of organize
Verb
  • Papik also said fishing policies are being amended that would allow native species to reclaim some of their number, like growing mollusks that are less susceptible to the alien blue crab.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 July 2026
  • The legislation now before Parliament amends a law passed in that same period, intended to deter organized malpractice and protect the credibility of public examinations.
    — Penny Abeywardena, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of amend
Verb
  • The production company asked Netflix in person and in writing to agree to delete any files transferred to a projector during screening and to arrange to promptly return the screener after viewing.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 31 July 2026
  • They are systematically arranged, customer-focused, and global in scope.
    — Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of arrange
Verb
  • The market is no longer waiting for Bitcoin holders to suddenly behave like debit-card users.
    — Sean Lee, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • Or when some man behaving like a degenerate gambler plods into Chelsea Gray’s DMs with a disgusting slur.
    — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 27 July 2026
Definition of behave
Verb
  • Asking for feedback is only one step of the process in bettering your organization.
    — Kate Wieczorek, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
  • Gogel rose 12 places with his 7-under 63, bettered only by Scotland's Stephen Gallacher in fifth with an 8-under 62, which included nine birdies.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 July 2026
Definition of better
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

straighten (up)
straighten (up or out)
straight-faced
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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 1 Aug. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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