straighten (up or out)

verb

Definition of straighten (up or out)next
1
as in to improve
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 to trim
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

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for straighten (up or out)
  1. improve
  2. trim
  3. shape up
  4. organize
  5. amend
  6. behave
  7. arrange
  8. better
Verb
  • His work focuses on how art and technology may improve learning settings.
    Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024
  • The Pakistani publishing industry will not improve until Pakistanis start buying original books en masse.
    Sonya Rehman, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024
Definition of improve
Verb
  • What's next: The incoming Trump administration is likely to push the country's federal workforce back into the office — largely as a way to trim headcount.
    Alex Fitzpatrick, Axios, 6 Dec. 2024
  • Malcolm Washington and co-screenwriter Virgil Williams found a way to trim the play while keeping its spirit intact.
    Clayton Davis, Variety, 6 Dec. 2024
Definition of trim
Verb
  • The 37-year-old is seemingly all but booked to fight Jack Della Maddalena on what’s shaping up to be an epic UFC 312 card in Sydney, Australia.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024
  • With an intermission halfway through and a — wait for it — budget under $10 million, The Brutalist was the talk of this year’s Venice Film Festival; Corbet scooped up the best director award, and his stars, Adrien Brody and Jones, set the pace for what are shaping up to be fierce acting races.
    Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Dec. 2024
Definition of shape up
Verb
  • At campuses across the country — including top California universities, New York University and Harvard — unions representing graduate student workers, part-time and non-tenure track faculty and others are rapidly and aggressively moving to organize workers.
    Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024
  • After all, who had ever heard of hiring someone to organize your files?
    Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2024
Definition of organize
Verb
  • Second, to actually end the policy, Trump would need to amend the Constitution itself.
    Maia Pandey, Journal Sentinel, 10 Dec. 2024
  • After the Jane Doe accuser amended her lawsuit to name Carter, the Roc Nation mogul formally responded to the complaint the next morning.
    Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 10 Dec. 2024
Definition of amend
Verb
  • Autism spectrum disorder is a neurological and developmental disorder affecting how people communicate, interact with others, learn and behave.
    Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 14 Dec. 2024
  • But even within any single character, these actors must exceed any reasonable expectations of how office workers must behave.
    Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 13 Dec. 2024
Definition of behave
Verb
  • The exhibition also gives visitors a chance to arrange their own bento box with the replica treats.
    Rosa Rahimi, CNN, 16 Dec. 2024
  • With no viable means of leaving the base, Moscow requested that the base's command arrange an immediate evacuation to Russia.
    David Brennan, ABC News, 16 Dec. 2024
Definition of arrange
Verb
  • Goldman said the cruise line has bettered its business and is deserving of a higher price-to-earnings multiple.
    Pia Singh, CNBC, 10 Dec. 2024
  • Here are some ways companies can better the frontline experience for everyone.
    Mark C. Perna, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024
Definition of better
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near straighten (up or out)

straighten (up)

straighten (up or out)

straight-faced

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Straighten (up or out).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straighten%20%28up%20or%20out%29. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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