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
-
While no specific therapy is approved for ANDV, early recognition dramatically improves the ability to deliver aggressive supportive care, monitor oxygenation, isolate potentially infectious patients, and initiate contact tracing before broader transmission occurs.—
Steve Brozak,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026 -
The slate improves from there, but Chicago TEs have only three favorable matchups all season.—
KC Joyner,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Verb
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The 2026 model, with only minor changes from 2025, is available in Premiere, Reserve and Black Label trims.—
James Raia,
Mercury News,
1 May 2026
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The third round of voting trims the field to four restaurants.—
Susan Stapleton,
Des Moines Register,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The founder’s role is evolving from chief decision maker to chief architect, someone who designs the systems, encodes the values, and governs the trajectories that determine how an organization behaves at scale.—
Rhett Power,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
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That will affect how El Niño behaves.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
16 May 2026
Verb
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The legislation amends the Brown Act to diversify and increase public engagement in meetings of local legislative bodies.—
Julie Gallant,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 May 2026
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The measure also amends the Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA) to make the IG's office exempt for nearly all categories.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
Verb
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There’s that churro bread pudding, the one with a junkyard origin story that breaks down the churros and then reforms them into a dense and perfect block as powerful as an Avengers movie prop.—
Mike Sutter,
San Antonio Express-News,
22 Apr. 2026
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Kentucky's General Assembly has passed House Bill 2, which reforms the state's Medicaid program.—
Keely Doll,
Louisville Courier Journal,
2 Apr. 2026
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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 20 May. 2026.
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