STRAIGHTEN (UP OR OUT) Synonyms: 48 Similar and Opposite Words

straighten (up or out)

verb

Definition of straighten (up or out)

as in to improve

to change one's behavior or character for the better I hope that rehab will help her straighten up for good

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Neutrinos bump into other particles only rarely, so scientists build large detectors to improve their odds of catching collisions.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026
But experts are not optimistic that the additional supply will improve refined product availability and temper prices in the long run.

— Matthew Tan, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of improve

Verb

October’s shaping up to be a busy spooky season for the Hot Girl ringleader.

— Michael Saponara, Billboard, 6 Oct. 2026
Affordability Given that this election is shaping up to be heavily influenced by voters’ concerns about affordability, both parties have the issue on their agendas but will approach it differently.

— Daniel J. Mallinson, The Conversation, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of shape up

Verb

Nova Mohiuddin, 23, and an organizing member of the UIC student chapter of Chicago Socialist Alternative, was the first to take the mic.

— Kate Perez, Chicago Tribune, 9 Oct. 2026
The events, organized by Michigan Jews for Democracy, represent the latest attempt to ease voter concerns over el Sayed, whose views on Israel and association with pro-Palestinian commentator Hasan Piker have drawn intense scrutiny.

— David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of organize

Verb

Going forward, the audit asks the Legislature to amend state law to provide clear instruction that prohibits state workers from regularly teleworking outside of California.

— Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026
But the city’s Finance, Governance and Public Safety Committee on Tuesday amended the map to remove portions of the 3rd District — which is the district the Chiefs and Royals are leaving for their new stadiums.

— Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of amend

Verb

The hotel can arrange special things like a in-room Peloton bike or facilitate extra amenities to host a meeting in your suite.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026
Annals are historical records arranged by year; the clue leverages the entry’s singular form to misdirect us.

— Sean McGowan, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of arrange

Verb

Along with the Vancouver Art Gallery (a former court house) and the nearby Hotel Georgia, the Hotel Vancouver is one of the three anchors that determined how downtown Vancouver was built, and how the neighborhood behaves today.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Researchers will use those collisions to probe the internal structure of matter and study how quarks and gluons, the fundamental particles responsible for building protons and neutrons, behave inside atomic nuclei.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of behave

Verb

As a senator, her priorities include supporting economic development, bettering police and community relations, securing funding for educational programs and passing policies for affordable housing, according to her campaign website.

— Alula Alderson, Sacbee.com, 27 Sep. 2026
His hopes for The Situation is to better the experience of other disadvantaged creatives climbing the ranks today.

— Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of better

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.

Browse Nearby Words

straighten (up)

straighten (up or out)

straight-faced

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“Straighten (up or out).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straighten%20%28up%20or%20out%29. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of straighten (up or out)

verb

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