1
as in improves
to change one's behavior or character for the better
I hope that rehab will help her straighten up for good
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in trims
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 straightens (up or out)
Verb
-
Once soil health improves, many gardeners find that digging individual planting holes is sufficient for establishing crops.—
Anthony Reardon,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2026 -
That said, judgments can remain valid for years and may be renewed, so if your financial situation improves later, creditors could attempt to collect at that time.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The third round of voting trims the field to four restaurants.—
Susan Stapleton,
Des Moines Register,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The Yale Repertory Theatre is using a 2019 adaptation by Frank Galati, which takes the standard Derek Prouse translation which has been around nearly as long as Ionesco original French script and trims it judiciously for maximum theatrical impact.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Gathering data about how the heat shield behaves this time around is actually a key mission goal.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
-
But in the real world, over long horizons, resilience behaves much more like the defining property of an ecosystem.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The bill amends military court rules in the occupied West Bank, allowing judges to impose the death penalty without needing a unanimous decision.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The bill amends Article 2 Chapter 11 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia which outlines penalties for obstructing roads.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Kentucky's General Assembly has passed House Bill 2, which reforms the state's Medicaid program.—
Keely Doll,
Louisville Courier Journal,
2 Apr. 2026
-
But again, even if FDA reforms its work here, states should still be allowed to take additional steps above a federal floor.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Oct. 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
“Straightens (up or out).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straightens%20%28up%20or%20out%29. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
