straightening (up or out)

verb

present participle of straighten (up or out)
1
as in shaping up
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
2
as in trimming
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 straightening (up or out)
  1. shaping up
  2. trimming
  3. improving
  4. organizing
  5. amending
  6. arranging
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 shaping up
Verb
  • Rather than trimming that weight, Fukushima's lab asked whether anything needed to be worn at all.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Spectator interference became the ruling, and Volpe was awarded an RBI double that scored Lombard from first base, trimming Tampa Bay's lead to 4-3.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of trimming
Verb
  • Instead, Nvidia focuses on improving work-life balance and has maintained a hybrid work programme, without strict return-to-office mandates.
    — Tamlin Magee, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • As new supply peaks, cash flow growth is improving and valuations are attractive relative to equities, according to Laughlin.
    — Diana Olick, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of improving
Verb
  • Bookkeeping is the process of recording and organizing your business's day-to-day financial activity.
    — Carson Brunson, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Meanwhile, the Union Syndicale Lycéenne, one of the high school student unions involved in organizing the demonstrations, suggested a much larger turnout of 450,000 people across the country.
    — Melissa Bell, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of organizing
Verb
  • The city’s planning director said amending the zoning code to allow data centers in Sacramento would require multiple public hearings.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The complex legislation — added by gutting and amending a bill known as Senate Bill 492 — was introduced less than three days before the legislative session was to end Monday.
    — Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of amending
Verb
  • Rossi interpreted the idea of the piazza quite literally, arranging the service’s pieces like structures around a public square.
    — Robb Report, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026
  • In January 2026, the company launched Beyond Borders, an employee network where international staff can help one another navigate the hurdles of settling in, such as finding a doctor, navigating an insurance policy document, or arranging childcare.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of arranging
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

straightening (up)
straightening (up or out)
straighten (out)
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Cite this Entry

“Straightening (up or out).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straightening%20%28up%20or%20out%29. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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