1
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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straighten (up or out)
Verb
-
Supporters view McMahon as a capable executive poised to reform a department that Republicans argue has failed to improve American education.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
4 Mar. 2025 -
Hundreds of studies have found that Medicaid expansion has improved access to care and the health of the people who gained coverage, while reducing mortality and bolstering state economies, among other positive outcomes.—
Nicole Huberfeld,
The Conversation,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Indeed, superhero cinema seems to be trimming a lot of the fat that’s contributed to the genre’s loss of gloss from its heady days of late-2010s.—
Mark Hughes,
Forbes,
24 Feb. 2025
-
Also different in 2025, five broad categories were trimmed to three.—
David Spiegel,
CNBC,
24 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
With Conan O'Brien making his Oscars hosting debut and nominees like Timothée Chalamet, Zoe Saldaña, and Cynthia Erivo vying for top honors, the 97th Academy Awards is shaping up to be a must-watch event.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
3 Mar. 2025
-
The Division 1 tournament is shaping up to be a doozy.—
Matt Feld,
Boston Herald,
24 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Establishing a fully independent judiciary will be essential for organizing free elections, managing political disputes, and rehabilitating the economy, since international investment is often tied to confidence in a country’s legal systems.—
PATRICK VINCK,
Foreign Affairs,
4 Mar. 2025
-
The bag’s practical design has an interior center pocket divider with a zipper closure and one interior slip pocket to organize my items while keeping them safe.—
Megan Schaltegger,
People.com,
4 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The decision did not mean the end of the case, but rather put the onus back on investigators and prosecutors to bring forward new evidence to bolster their charges, or amend the indictment.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
27 Feb. 2025
-
The editors reserve the right to amend any information or remove any listees in light of new information.—
Jane Ho,
Forbes,
26 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
As a collective, the robots behaved like a material that could change shape and switch between solid and liquid states, just like the T-1000.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
1 Mar. 2025
-
Unlike our synthetic sidekicks, Samantha behaves like a human being.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
This cosmic phenomenon inspired the couple to include astrological motifs throughout their wedding plans, from personalized Zodiac plates for every guest to arranging the tables to represent the sun with surrounding planets in orbit.—
Shelby Wax,
Vogue,
21 Feb. 2025
-
Frame a few new photos and arrange them with meaningful keepsakes on your shelves.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
21 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
The American Gaming Association estimates betters nationwide will wager $1.39 billion on the big game — an 11.2% increase from the projection made by research firm Eilers & Krejcik Gaming for last year's Super Bowl.—
Jessica Boehm,
Axios,
7 Feb. 2025
-
People add a range of things, like chlorophyll drops, apple cider vinegar and L-theanine powder to their water in order to try to better their health.—
Kristan Hawkins,
Newsweek,
6 Feb. 2025
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.
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 8 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share