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Definitions

straighten out

ADVERB
seriously
Synonyms
STRONGEST
actively earnestly passionately sincerely vigorously
STRONG
gravely
WEAK
all joking aside cool it cut the comedy determinedly down fervently for real in all conscience in all seriousness in earnest intently purposefully resolutely sedately simmer down soberly solemnly sternly thoughtfully with a straight face with forethought with sobriety zealously
Antonyms
WEAK
casually funnily lightly minor trivially
VERB
aid
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abet alleviate assist encourage promote subsidize
STRONG
befriend benefact favor lighten mitigate relieve serve sustain
WEAK
bail out go to bat for go with lend a hand open doors for stick up for
Antonyms
STRONGEST
deter discourage hinder hurt
STRONG
burden upset
WEAK
block impede injure obstruct
VERB
arbitrate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
adjudicate interpose intervene mediate
STRONG
adjudge adjust conciliate decide determine judge negotiate parley placate reconcile referee settle smooth soothe umpire
WEAK
bring to terms come to school come to terms hammer out a deal make a deal meet halfway pass judgment play ball step in strike happy medium trade off work out a deal
Antonyms
STRONGEST
ignore
STRONG
agitate confuse hesitate upset worry
WEAK
let ride
VERB
clarify
Synonyms
STRONGEST
analyze clear up define formulate interpret resolve simplify spell out
STRONG
delineate elucidate illuminate illustrate settle
WEAK
break down draw a picture make perfectly clear make plain shed light on throw light on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
complicate confuse question
STRONG
mix up obscure
WEAK
dirty muddle muddy
VERB
clear up
Synonyms
STRONGEST
clarify illustrate resolve solve unravel
WEAK
answer cipher decipher dissolve elucidate figure out illuminate make plausible make reasonable puzzle out tidy unfold
Antonyms
STRONGEST
question wonder
WEAK
complicate worsen
VERB
correct
Synonyms
STRONGEST
alter amend cure improve mend rectify redress regulate remediate remedy repair review revise upgrade
STRONG
ameliorate better change debug doctor edit emend help launder polish reclaim reconstruct reform remodel reorganize retouch right scrub
WEAK
clean up clean up act do over fiddle with fix up get with it go over make over make right make up for pay dues pick up put in order set right set straight shape up touch up turn around
Antonyms
STRONGEST
break damage depress destroy harm hurt injure maintain remain ruin weaken worsen
WEAK
be permissive blow blunder coddle goof indulge mistake pamper pet spoil
VERB
debug
Synonyms
STRONGEST
unscramble
STRONG
adjust correct fix remedy repair unravel untangle
WEAK
iron out remove errors sort out work the bugs out of
Antonyms
STRONG
break destroy disarrange disorganize hurt injure spoil tangle
VERB
improve
Synonyms
STRONGEST
advance better boost correct develop enhance help increase lift progress promote raise recover reform revamp revise rise upgrade
STRONG
ameliorate amend augment civilize convalesce cultivate edit elevate emend meliorate mend polish purify rally rectify recuperate refine sharpen skyrocket update
WEAK
come around doctor up gain ground look up make strides perk up pick up set right shape up take off touch up turn the corner
Antonyms
STRONGEST
blow decline decrease demote depress descend deteriorate diminish drop halt hinder hurt lessen lose lower recede reduce repress retreat retrogress stop worsen
STRONG
corrupt damage destroy dirty dull pollute ruin weaken
WEAK
harm injure
VERB
iron out
Synonyms
STRONGEST
arbitrate clear up eradicate expedite get rid of harmonize negotiate resolve settle smooth over unravel
WEAK
agree compromise eliminate erase put right reach agreement settle differences simplify sort out
Antonyms
STRONGEST
question
WEAK
make worse mess up
VERB
organize
Synonyms
STRONGEST
construct coordinate create establish form formulate regulate run set up
STRONG
adapt adjust catalogue classify codify combine compose constitute correlate dispose fashion fit frame group harmonize marshal mold pigeonhole range settle shape standardize straighten tabulate tailor
WEAK
be responsible for get going get-together lick into shape line up look after methodize put in order put together see to take care of whip into shape
Antonyms
STRONGEST
break destroy ruin
STRONG
confuse differ disarrange disconnect disorder disorganize disperse disturb mix up move scatter unfit upset
VERB
rectify
Synonyms
STRONGEST
amend fix improve redress remedy
STRONG
adjust debug doctor emend launder mend reform remediate repair revise right scrub square
WEAK
clean up clean up act dial back fix up go over make good make up for pay one's dues pick up put right recalibrate shape up straighten up turn things around
Antonyms
STRONGEST
corrupt harm hurt injure worsen
STRONG
break destroy ruin upset
WEAK
damage
VERB
remedy
Synonyms
STRONGEST
alleviate ameliorate amend assuage correct mitigate rectify redress relieve restore solve
STRONG
aid attend change control debug doctor ease heal help launder palliate reform remediate renew repair revise right scrub soothe square treat upgrade
WEAK
clean up clean up one's act fiddle with fix up go over make up for pick up put right recalibrate set right set to rights shape up square up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aggravate damage harm hurt increase injure intensify upset worsen
STRONG
block break hinder ignore neglect obstruct remain stay stop
WEAK
get sick
VERB
right
Synonyms
STRONG
adjust amend balance debug doctor emend launder mend overhaul patch recompense recondition reconstruct rectify redress repair restore reward scrub settle square straighten vindicate
WEAK
clean up compensate for dial back do justice fiddle with fix up go straight make up for pick up put in place put right recalibrate set straight set upright shape up sort out turn around
Antonyms
STRONG
break confuse damage destroy harm hurt injure move punish ruin upset worsen
WEAK
wrong
VERB
unravel
Synonyms
STRONGEST
undo
STRONG
disentangle free separate unknot unsnarl unwind
Antonyms
STRONG
twist wind
WEAK
knot tangle tie

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Should these innings be used to straighten out previously-successful relievers such as Treinen and Scott?

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 22, 2025

“You want to straighten out the budget?” he asked.

From Salon • Aug. 28, 2025

That’s so the Washington State Department of Transportation can straighten out the busy corridor.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 13, 2023

He hopes the worst is behind him as he tries to straighten out a career gone sideways.

From Washington Times • Jun. 8, 2023

One by one, I pried my black-gloved fingers back, trying to straighten out my warped hand.

From "Tangerine" by Edward Bloor

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.