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
  • Supporting actress is historically one of the Academy’s most fluid categories, and the placement gives Hüller a clearer runway than a lead field that is shaping up to be one of the most crowded in years.
    — Clayton Davis, Variety, 2 Nov. 2026
  • This upcoming Saturday is shaping up to be the greatest Saturday slate of all time.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of shaping up
Verb
  • Informal ones have looser requirements and can be pruned once or twice a year with selective thinning and trimming by hand.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 6 Nov. 2026
  • From Christmas cocktails and tree-trimming ideas to gift wrapping, recipes, and musical moments, each segment adds warmth, fun, and fresh inspiration.
    — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of trimming
Verb
  • Jason Watson, Lockheed Martin’s vice president of Strategic Reentry Programs, described testing as essential to improving reliability.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Serve the easy meal, use the good blanket, and let a pleasure count without improving it.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of improving
Verb
  • For the fourth event, however, No Kings sought to get more than 9 million people into the streets, and then directly to the polls, by organizing an early voting event on October 17.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 3 Nov. 2026
  • The software assists operators in identifying objects that could represent mine threats and organizing the information needed to make operational decisions.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of organizing
Verb
  • The Bridgewater woman started working at the Quincy RMV in 2019 and was in charge of transactions that included issuing duplicate titles, changing ownership, amending and correcting titles, and adding liens.
    — Matt Schooley, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
  • In addition to candidates, the Maryland ballot contains three ballot questions amending the state’s constitution.
    — Letters to the Editor, Washington Post, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of amending
Verb
  • The painting was only recently revealed to the family at the end of her aunt's life when arranging her affairs.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 7 Nov. 2026
  • His organization, Protect Paws, has reportedly helped more than 1,500 stray dogs by arranging for medical treatment, vaccinations and reflective collars.
    — Kamala Thiagarajan, NPR, 7 Nov. 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 9 Nov. 2026.

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