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
  • The developers say automating pollination could reduce the need for manual labor, lower breeding costs, and improve the efficiency of hybrid breeding.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Back in 2004, the Chargers improved from 31st in points allowed to 11th after the arrival of new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips.
    — Zak Keefer, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of improve
Verb
  • People were fatally hit while hiking, kayaking, riding a Jet Ski, sitting on the beach, swimming, trimming trees and walking to their car, according to an incident chart on the National Lightning Safety Council website.
    — Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Airlines responded to these higher fuel costs by raising fare, trimming less-profitable flights and rethinking growth plans.
    — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of trim
Verb
  • There are also chocolate brown ballet flats—a rich neutral that’s shaping up to be everywhere this season—plus deals from Sorel, Adidas, and Allswifit, the affordable brand shoppers often compare to Hoka.
    — Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 10 Sep. 2026
  • New Hampshire’s premier Senate race is on after party leaders secured their top choices in what’s shaping up to be one of the tightest contests in the entire country come November.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of shape up
Verb
  • The answer is to not passively accept what is given but to organize to make our voices heard.
    — Torie Bosch, STAT, 5 Sep. 2026
  • But rather than invent a market, ride hailing companies only help to organize the existing pools of drivers — with the right incentives — and connect them to willing but price-sensitive passengers.
    — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of organize
Verb
  • Unlike all of these, but very much like the Massachusetts Constitution of 1780, which has been amended more than a hundred times, it was meant to be revised, updated, and improved.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026
  • And others have not followed Texas in attempting to amend their bans.
    — Andrea Suozzo, ProPublica, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of amend
Verb
  • Twelve years later, England arranged themselves in a V-shape which outflanked the haka, their fly-half Owen Farrell appearing to wink at the All Blacks’ display — and made it through to the World Cup final with a 19-7 triumph.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Within the five-story building, art is displayed across 35 galleries arranged by such themes as family, love, fantasy, work, play, community, childhood, adventure, and sports.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of arrange
Verb
  • The researchers considered an idealized case in which both rubidium and krypton atoms behaved as bosons.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2026
  • In Empa's earlier work, introducing phosphorus dramatically changed how the epoxy behaved in a fire.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of behave
Verb
  • Yet again, nobody on the field bettered the Bosnian’s 13 defensive contributions, the majority of which came down to his nine clearances.
    — Beren Cross, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Parton dedicated her life and career to bettering the world in so many ways, from her Dollywood theme park to her Imagination Library, which has promoted childhood literacy through delivering millions of books to children.
    — Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 25 Aug. 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 12 Sep. 2026.

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