as in uncurling
to cause to follow a line that is without bends or curls
straighten that extension cord—it should be just long enough to reach the wall outlet
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Recent Examples of straightening
After unboxing 20,000 shirts, the rest of the staff paired up in different sections around the area, with one putting the shirts on the seats and the other following behind and straightening them out.
—
Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Kuhlken worked with me at home for about a month, providing basic exercises focusing on bending and straightening my knees, improving my walking and building my strength and balance.
—Nicole Sours Larson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
Slowly lower your right arm overhead toward the floor while simultaneously straightening and lowering your left leg a few inches (perform the movement slowly and controlled).
—Jakob Roze, Health, 1 Apr. 2026
According to a report from Emory University, many Black Americans in the late 19th century turned to hair straightening to avoid discrimination.
—Lauren Winfrey, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Its purpose is to improve the external appearance of the nose by removing a hump, refining the tip, straightening the bridge, or making the nose appear smaller and more balanced with the rest of the face.
—Carlos Wolf, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2026
So instead of getting up and immediately straightening the covers, go through your usual morning routine before circling back.
—Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 31 Jan. 2026
Imagine lowering your body in one straight plane, and pushing right back up and straightening your elbows.
—Caroline C. Boyle, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026
How To Hone And Sharpen Knives Honing Honing involves realigning the edge of the knife, straightening the existing edge to keep it slicing efficiently.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2025
Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Kuhlken worked with me at home for about a month, providing basic exercises focusing on bending and straightening my knees, improving my walking and building my strength and balance.
—Nicole Sours Larson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
Slowly lower your right arm overhead toward the floor while simultaneously straightening and lowering your left leg a few inches (perform the movement slowly and controlled).
—Jakob Roze, Health, 1 Apr. 2026
According to a report from Emory University, many Black Americans in the late 19th century turned to hair straightening to avoid discrimination.
—Lauren Winfrey, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Its purpose is to improve the external appearance of the nose by removing a hump, refining the tip, straightening the bridge, or making the nose appear smaller and more balanced with the rest of the face.
—Carlos Wolf, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2026
So instead of getting up and immediately straightening the covers, go through your usual morning routine before circling back.
—Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 31 Jan. 2026
Imagine lowering your body in one straight plane, and pushing right back up and straightening your elbows.
—Caroline C. Boyle, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026
How To Hone And Sharpen Knives Honing Honing involves realigning the edge of the knife, straightening the existing edge to keep it slicing efficiently.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 29 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straightening
Verb
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Without unbending her back, the mother arranges her mouth into a placid line.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Dec. 2025
Verb
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There's nothing like an evening spent unwinding with friends around a fire pit.—
Tessa Cooper,
The Spruce,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Policymakers should be focused on unwinding this deeply flawed legacy, not doubling down on it.—
Elaine Parker,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Straightening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straightening. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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