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
  • At 28 years old, the sizeable outlay on the Brazilian midfielder continues Arsenal’s ploy of spending big money on players who can immediately improve their first team.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Some activists remain positive that more staffers at shelters will improve conditions, but others argue the money should go straight to the animals through food, enrichment and supplies instead of wages.
    — Hailey Wang, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of improve
Verb
  • The machine is programmed in advance, allowing landscapers to complete other tasks, such as trimming and cleanup, while the mower cuts the grass.
    — Emily M. Olson, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The Tempo trimmed the deficit to four points in the final minute, but Bueckers hit a jumper to get the lead back to six before Isabelle Harrison was called for a charge.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of trim
Verb
  • Fall 2026 is shaping up to be a major season for statement footwear, but one of the most polished trends, the high-vamp pump, is surprisingly understated.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • May was a dry month, but every other month since February has been wetter than normal, and August is shaping up to be the same.
    — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of shape up
Verb
  • Store Craft Supplies Keep beads, paint brushes, and other craft supplies organized by storing them in their own upcycled candle jars with a small label if desired.
    — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Draft the email, organize notes, or give yourself space to think before a professional conversation.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of organize
Verb
  • The legislation would amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to create federal photo ID standards for in-person and vote-by-mail.
    — Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 11 Aug. 2026
  • In her new ruling obtained by Rolling Stone, the judge said Evans appeared to have been angered by Voletta’s decision, just weeks before her death, to amend her trust and remove CJ as a co-trustee.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of amend
Verb
  • After retiring from working in 2019, Norris enjoyed growing and arranging flowers from her yard.
    — Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Nvidia, the $5 trillion AI infrastructure superstar, just arranged $500 billion in financing from Apollo, BlackRock, Goldman Sachs and other Wall Street firms to bankroll customer orders for its cutting-edge chips.
    — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of arrange
Verb
  • Driscoll and others involved in the mission worried that something far less dramatic could derail it, such as an accidental weapon discharge, an isolated confrontation with a protester or a guardsman caught on camera behaving poorly.
    — Steven Beynon, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • This is a mass disabling event, concentrated in working-age people and skewed female, behaving exactly as post-viral illness always has.
    — Keely Cat-Wells, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of behave
Verb
  • His revered mentor, José Antonio Abreu, who founded the educational program in 1975 with the conviction that learning music can, in bettering lives, lead to profound social change.
    — Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Asking for feedback is only one step of the process in bettering your organization.
    — Kate Wieczorek, Forbes.com, 28 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
See all Nearby Words

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 15 Aug. 2026.

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