straighten (up or out)

1
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

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for straighten (up or out)
Verb
  • Pollination season was windy, cold and rainy — but supply chain problems began to improve and inventory came down.
    Annika Merrilees, Sacbee.com, 7 June 2025
  • Levy said that if the political climate doesn’t improve, business for him will likely be even worse in 2026.
    Jason Carroll, CNN Money, 7 June 2025
Verb
  • The Owls trimmed the lead to 25-20 and got the ball back at their 30 with 32 seconds remaining in the game.
    Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 30 May 2025
  • While restructuring in the name of efficiency is one way to trim headcount, a negative work environment can also have a direct impact on talent retention.
    The Hill, The Hill, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • Now, the two horses and six others will meet in what is shaping up to be one of the more anticipated horse races of the year.
    Matt Richardson, CBS News, 7 June 2025
  • But based on the Trump administration’s track record, this new department is shaping up to be a textbook case of political double standards.
    Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 4 June 2025
Verb
  • Gracie Oaks Versus 20-Pair Shoe Storage Cabinet Keep your shoes neatly organized with this storage cabinet, which conceals up to 20 pairs.
    Ali Faccenda, People.com, 7 June 2025
  • In 2020, government stimulus efforts overwhelmed financial systems, and fraud rings used that window to organize, fund and scale.
    Rodney Drake, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • Gregory Davis, public information officer for the city of Ocala, told ABC News the city's council will be voting on Tuesday to amend the ordinance.
    Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 3 June 2025
  • Last month, the Ohio Ballot Board signed off on the proposal to amend the Ohio constitution to abolish property taxes, giving official permission to Citizens for Property Tax Reform to start gathering signatures supporting the measure's appearance on the November ballot.
    Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 June 2025
Verb
  • There are times when adults really should behave more like children.
    DeVonne Goode, Parents, 6 June 2025
  • Successful deployment depends on robust guardrails—policies, oversight mechanisms and escalation paths that ensure agents behave in alignment with enterprise standards.
    Alan Ranger, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • The park hosts various stargazing events, and larger groups can arrange hour-long astronomy programs (pending staff availability).
    Lydia Mansel, Southern Living, 8 June 2025
  • Fun fact: Cohen arranged the casting contract for his former Goonies costar Ke Huy Quan for Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022).
    Sarah Weldon, EW.com, 7 June 2025
Verb
  • The cerebral and emotional aspect of being a Stray Kid means the members are also constantly pushing themselves to better their craft.
    Jae-Ha Kim, Rolling Stone, 6 June 2025
  • Richardson is vocal about her journey to continue bettering herself as a person and athlete, making this partnership an excellent match.
    Katelyn Hutchison, Forbes.com, 30 May 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.

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Cite this Entry

“Straighten (up or out).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straighten%20%28up%20or%20out%29. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.

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