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

“It’s a trap. You go in there saying you want to straighten out your papers, they’ll deport you.”

From "The Woman Warrior" by Maxine Hong Kingston

straighten out

Example Sentences

Related Words