as in unbent
to cause to follow a line that is without bends or curls
straighten that extension cord—it should be just long enough to reach the wall outlet
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of straightened
Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 1 Feb. 2026
Her mom pushed back a stray hair and straightened the small chain with a crucifix around the girl’s neck.
—Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 31 Jan. 2026
Kardashian wore her waist-length tresses straightened, while her glam consisted of shimmery bronze eyeshadow, pink blush, and nude lip liner.
—Hannah Malach, InStyle, 19 Jan. 2026
In the link preview his face was frozen mid-sentence in front of an auditorium’s mauve curtain, his tie straight and his shoulders straightened.
—Literary Hub, 15 Dec. 2025
At the very least, it must have been straightened or blow-dried before each show.
—Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025
From low-rise jeans and velvet tracksuits to straightened hair and group shots at school sports games, prom, and campus hangouts, the photos show a life that mirrors teen comedies from the era likely featuring Amanda Bynes, Lindsay Lohan or Hilary Duff.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
This is the part that's been straightened about 100 to 120 years ago.
—Erin Hassanzadeh, CBS News, 3 Dec. 2025
Goth straightened and presented the supervisor with his full attention.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 10 Nov. 2025
Verb
Malinin straightened and leaned forward on the sofa.
—Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 1 Feb. 2026
Her mom pushed back a stray hair and straightened the small chain with a crucifix around the girl’s neck.
—Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 31 Jan. 2026
Kardashian wore her waist-length tresses straightened, while her glam consisted of shimmery bronze eyeshadow, pink blush, and nude lip liner.
—Hannah Malach, InStyle, 19 Jan. 2026
In the link preview his face was frozen mid-sentence in front of an auditorium’s mauve curtain, his tie straight and his shoulders straightened.
—Literary Hub, 15 Dec. 2025
At the very least, it must have been straightened or blow-dried before each show.
—Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025
From low-rise jeans and velvet tracksuits to straightened hair and group shots at school sports games, prom, and campus hangouts, the photos show a life that mirrors teen comedies from the era likely featuring Amanda Bynes, Lindsay Lohan or Hilary Duff.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
This is the part that's been straightened about 100 to 120 years ago.
—Erin Hassanzadeh, CBS News, 3 Dec. 2025
Goth straightened and presented the supervisor with his full attention.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 10 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straightened
straight
Adjective
-
After interviewing for multiple head coaching jobs this month, McDaniel agreed to join Jim Harbaugh with the Chargers, who finished their second straight 11-6 season under their veteran head coach with another playoff exit in the wild-card round.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Transfer icing to a pastry bag fitted with a very small straight tip (or use a resealable plastic bag and snip off one corner); pipe a pattern on top of marzipan as desired.—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Straightened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straightened. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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