straightens (up or out)

verb

present tense third-person singular of straighten (up or out)
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

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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)
  1. improves
  2. trims
  3. behaves
  4. amends
  5. reforms
Verb
  • Their expertise helps prevent costly complications and improves the efficiency of our health-care system.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Shares of Jersey Mike’s have fallen nearly 28% since its initial public offering in July, while Dunkin’ owner Inspire Brands is reportedly unlikely to go public this year unless the sector’s performance improves.
    — Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of improves
Verb
  • However, his proposal trims the Center’s initial $750 million ask, with other groups also taking much smaller haircuts as well.
    — Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The change, announced in a presentation on Wednesday, is part of a broader shift in Microsoft’s reporting structure, as the company trims its operating segments from three to two.
    — Jordan Novet, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of trims
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
  • That combination creates a magnetic state that behaves more like a liquid crystal than a conventional heated magnet.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of behaves
Verb
  • The proposal adds a new law in the state Constitution and amends Oklahoma's rules on voter identification, requiring voters to show proof of their identity.
    — Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The Santini-Burton Modernization Act amends a 1980 law that allows the Forest Service to purchase environmentally sensitive land in the Tahoe Basin.
    — Haley Parsley August 17, Sacbee.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of amends
Verb
  • 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
  • Kentucky's General Assembly has passed House Bill 2, which reforms the state's Medicaid program.
    — Keely Doll, Louisville Courier Journal, 2 Apr. 2026
Definition of reforms
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

straightens (up)
straightens (up or out)
straighten (up)
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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 11 Oct. 2026.

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