straighten

verb

ˈstrā-tᵊn How to pronounce straighten (audio)
Definition of straightennext
as in to unbend
to cause to follow a line that is without bends or curls straighten that extension cord—it should be just long enough to reach the wall outlet

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of straighten Others in group were skilled at straightening delicate headstones in a way that prevents damage, said former American Legion Auxiliary National President Lisa Williamson. — Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 28 Aug. 2026 Wall Sit Wall sits strengthen your quads without repeatedly bending and straightening your knees. — Jakob Roze, HEALTH, 18 Aug. 2026 Swift was seen with noticeably shorter hair that wasn’t fully straightened at the August 15 wedding of recording engineers Oli Jacobs and Laura Sisk in the UK. — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 17 Aug. 2026 Quickly jump up, straighten your legs, and extend your arms overhead. — Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 26 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for straighten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straighten
  1. unbend
  2. uncurl
Verb
  • Without unbending her back, the mother arranges her mouth into a placid line.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Dec. 2025
  • The social hierarchy is unbending, but Flora knows she is destined for something greater, even though this puts her at odds with her superiors.
    — Vogue, Vogue, 29 July 2025
Definition of unbend
Verb
  • One fall day in 1856, a family of Eastern gray squirrels in rural New York uncurled from a cozy nest in a chestnut tree, looked around, and joined half a billion other squirrels on a multi-state walkabout.
    — Christine Peterson, Vox, 23 Dec. 2024
  • Exhale, lower the bridge down, then uncurl the trunk to bring the right hip and shoulder back to the ground.
    — Jen Murphy, WSJ, 16 June 2022
Definition of uncurl

Phrases Containing straighten

Browse Nearby Words

straightbred
straighten
straightened
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Straighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straighten. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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