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
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Sacramento improved its position in the lottery standings, gaining ground on the Nets and Indiana Pacers, who beat the Miami Heat 135-118 after losing 18 of their last 19 games.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
30 Mar. 2026 -
Albin is confident the offensive line will improve this season, allowing the signal callers to take command of the offense.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Build buffer time, trim one commitment, then return to the itinerary with even gentler expectations and a simpler packing list.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
2 Apr. 2026
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His volunteering includes helping seniors by mowing their lawns, trimming their hedges and bringing them dinner on holidays.—
Janice Neumann,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The race is shaping up as a high-profile test of whether Democrats can regain a footing in Florida, where the party has not won a Senate seat since 2012 and where Republicans hold a voter registration advantage.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
1 Apr. 2026
-
This is shaping up to be the most capital-intensive technology transition in modern history, and the gains from that investment are flowing disproportionately to those few who own the infrastructure behind it.—
Ravi Kumar S,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Efforts are now underway to organize residents and explore legal options.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
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The 21st Arbor Day celebration was organized by Harford County to plant native trees throughout the County.—
The Aegis,
Baltimore Sun,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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And Cipriani later amended his complaint adding Paramount, David and Larry Ellisons, RedBird Capital and Paramount’s board of directors as defendants.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
2 Apr. 2026
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The Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended in 1996, directed the EPA to publish the Contaminant Candidate List every five years.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Emma and Charlie are dizzied by the wedding industrial complex, with its parade of chirpy, pushy florists and photographers and dance coaches who behave like their corner of the upcoming party is the centerpiece of the night.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
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On the other hand, imagine holding five energy companies that seem to move in sync—behaving like one trade spread across five stocks.—
Doug Ashburn,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The concierge specializes in Kyoto’s cultural events, and can help access exclusive ochaya with an interpreter, score tickets to the theater, book dinner reservations, a huge help in Kyoto, or help arrange meetings with monks and priests at the city’s Shinto shrines and temples.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 Apr. 2026
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These could be arranged into longer, songlike sequences that played automatically.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Just like any other tech transformation, there are sure to be growing pains—but people can better their chances by adding AI to their arsenal.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
1 Apr. 2026
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Many criticized the program as a distraction from the country’s problems and a waste of money that the government could instead use to better the lives of everyday Americans.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2026
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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 5 Apr. 2026.
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