straightened (up or out)

verb

past tense of straighten (up or out)
1
as in shaped up
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 trimmed
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 straightened (up or out)
  1. shaped up
  2. trimmed
  3. improved
  4. organized
  5. amended
  6. arranged
  7. behaved
Verb
  • House Democratic leadership declared victory before midnight Tuesday, putting the finishing touches on what shaped up to be a historic night for Democrats.
    — Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Tuesday has shaped up quite nicely, weather-wise, across North Texas.
    — Lauren Bostwick, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of shaped up
Verb
  • The Lakers led Toronto 102-76 with 90 seconds left in the third quarter, but the Raptors trimmed the deficit to single digits before Doncic and Reaves led a quick 9-1 rally.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Add more oil if pot looks dry; arrange 2 large oranges and/or lemons, halved, and 2 heads of garlic, tops trimmed to expose cloves, cut side down in pot and add 3 large shallots, peeled.
    — Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of trimmed
Verb
  • The researchers further found that UQ-DAAAM improved the accuracy of answers to questions about objects, their locations, and when the robot last encountered them.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Researchers in China found that repeatedly applying gentle pressure to the shinbones of elderly mice improved their strength, coordination, and performance on memory tests.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of improved
Verb
  • The group has organized several listening events, at venues from the Museum of Old and New Art in Tasmania to the Angel Orensanz Center, housed in a 175-year-old former synagogue in New York.
    — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • XPeng shared footage of the test on October 23, following a drive organized by Chinese automotive platform BitAuto, also known as Yiche.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of organized
Verb
  • In October 2025, Guatemala’s Congress amended several laws to designate the Barrio 18 and Mara Salvatrucha gangs as transnational criminal and terrorist organizations.
    — Almudena Calatrava, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The original proposal included employers of all sizes, but the Board of Health amended the policy to exempt small businesses.
    — Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of amended
Verb
  • The Ohio State University The team explored several Scentronic designs, including a lightweight wristband with two scent channels, a necklace with five arranged like pearls on a string, and a handheld five-channel version.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 Nov. 2026
  • There is also concrete poetry—writing arranged in images or geometric forms—a tradition that can be traced to ancient instances of shaped poetry.
    — Alec Mapes-Frances, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of arranged
Verb
  • Photo courtesy of Elsberry Riding and Farm HeeHaw's owner, Hannah Michelle Israel, has said the donkey was gentle and had never behaved aggressively.
    — Christopher Harris, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Comment sections were filled with glib condemnations of relatives who had behaved idiotically after exposure.
    — Téa Obreht, New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of behaved
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

straightened (up)
straightened (up or out)
straightening
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Cite this Entry

“Straightened (up or out).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straightened%20%28up%20or%20out%29. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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