straightening (up or out)

verb

present participle of straighten (up or out)
1
as in shaping up
to change one's behavior or character for the better I hope that rehab will help her straighten up for good

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in trimming
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 straightening (up or out)
  1. shaping up
  2. trimming
  3. improving
  4. organizing
  5. amending
  6. arranging
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 shaping up
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
  • Moving basil to full sun, watering consistently, and trimming leggy stems can revitalize it late in the season.
    — Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of trimming
Verb
  • However, student well-being initially declined before improving in later years, while average test scores, attendance, classroom attention and reported online bullying changed little.
    — Kavin Bendre, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Despite rising costs, borrowers are showing more discipline by paying down debt and improving credit scores.
    — Sharon Wu, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of improving
Verb
  • His campaign spent the summer ramping up fundraising, staff and organizing infrastructure.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Others are organizing underground schools to fill gaps in education and collaborating closely with Afghans in exile to prepare legal action against the Taliban’s abuses.
    — Rina Amiri, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of organizing
Verb
  • For two years, legislators and advocacy groups have proposed amending the Illinois Pesticide Act to require advance notification before spraying near schools and parks.
    — Christiana Freitag, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026
  • There are many ways to improve your garden’s soil quality, such as amending it with compost and mulching around plants.
    — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of amending
Verb
  • After retiring from working in 2019, Norris enjoyed growing and arranging flowers from her yard.
    — Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The morning of the wedding could be spent escaping the madness for a moment of peace among the trees, or arranging a pre-wedding morning coffee overlooking the estate.
    — Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of arranging
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

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

“Straightening (up or out).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straightening%20%28up%20or%20out%29. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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