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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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)
Verb
-
Teams around the league widely view next year’s class as shaping up to be substantially better than this year’s.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
23 Apr. 2026 -
What was shaping up as a challenge to an incumbent is now an open-seat contest, likely drawing additional candidates and increasing competition, particularly in the Democratic primary.—
Abby Dodge,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Oracle Park roared to life in the bottom of the fifth as San Francisco’s offense finally got to Alcantara, trimming the deficit to 8-3 as Drew Gilbert, Eric Haase and Luis Arraez all drove in a run apiece.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Across TikTok, Instagram and group chats, young people are constantly editing themselves, trimming anything that might come off as try-hard, awkward or embarrassing.—
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The demonstration of fast-improving robotic speed and autonomy comes as China’s tech industry is rapidly scaling up mass production of humanoid robots to explore possible uses in the real world.—
Jeremy Hsu,
ArsTechnica,
20 Apr. 2026
-
There is little evidence that gelatin supplements are useful for managing diarrhea, improving joint pain, or improving bone health.—
Amber J. Tresca,
Verywell Health,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Crafting, puzzles, cleaning out your closet, organizing your pantry, or reading a book all fall into this category.—
Lesly Gregory,
AJC.com,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Some residents are organizing and threatening lawsuits to stop the plan.—
J.D. Miles,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Last week, Spanberger signed legislation entering Virginia into the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC), an initiative that aims to fundamentally change the way the United States elects presidents without amending the Constitution.—
Jason Willick,
Washington Post,
19 Apr. 2026
-
But a county judge released Guzman on her own recognizance, a week later amending the conditions of her release to include a 24/7 GPS monitor.—
Selina Guevara,
NBC news,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Ballmer steadfastly denies arranging the deal between Aspiration and Leonard, who by all accounts performed no duties for Aspiration.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Just three weeks ago, Vancouver Police reported five incidents involving a man allegedly robbing people after arranging to meet with him, to sell the suspect Pokémon cards.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
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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 26 Apr. 2026.
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