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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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
  • Anthropic, which was valued at close to $1 trillion earlier this year, is preparing for an initial public offering as soon as next month that is shaping up as one of the biggest ever.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026
  • This week is shaping up to give us a break from the summerlike sweat.
    — Miami Herald Staff Report, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of shaping up
Verb
  • The younger Bolsonaro's other proposals include trimming the size of the Brazilian state to boost economic growth.
    — Carrie Kahn, NPR, 23 Oct. 2026
  • But new technologies are opening the door to transition a portion of the inputs from petrochemicals to plants, trimming the environmental impact of these fibers.
    — Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of trimming
Verb
  • The performance of hydrocarbons must be considered as part of a wider system that is simultaneously scaling clean electricity input and improving efficiency across the value chain.
    — H.E. Dr Abdulla Saif Al Jarwan, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Voters in DeKalb County will decide whether to renew a special one-cent sales tax that goes toward improving schools.
    — Emily McLeod, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of improving
Verb
  • Technology handles more of the searching, organizing and comparing surrounding it.
    — Denys Kanel, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Locally, losing the endorsement could strip Raman of volunteers and organizing infrastructure just weeks before her runoff against Mayor Karen Bass.
    — Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of organizing
Verb
  • In 1990, Congress considered amending the CAA so that the EPA could substitute itself and take control of citizen suits over alleged violations.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Independent experts have also called for amending building codes to require long-term monitoring of settlement.
    — Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of amending
Verb
  • One of our all-time favorite experiences was arranging a private, behind-the-scenes tour of Blenheim Palace, led by none other than the Duke of Marlborough himself.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Miranda Orozco, 50, was sentenced to 30 years in prison after admitting to arranging travel and accommodations for two people who died and another who was seriously injured.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 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 27 Oct. 2026.

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