straighten

[ streyt-n ]

/ ˈstreɪt n /

to make or become straight in direction, form, position, character, conduct, condition, etc. (often followed by up or out).

Origin of straighten

First recorded in 1535–45; straight + -en¹

straight·en·er, noun o·ver·straight·en, verb pre·straight·en, verb (used with object) re·straight·en, verb

un·straight·ened, adjective well-straight·ened, adjective

Instead, straighten your civic backbone and push back in clear conscience.

Why We Stand With Charlie Hebdo—And You Should Too |John Avlon |January 8, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
Morris struggled to straighten his back, which involved stiffening a spine rarely used.

Powerful Congressman Writes About ‘Fleshy Breasts’ |Asawin Suebsaeng |January 7, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
Fitzpatrick was supposed to assess the situation in Boston and make recommendations to straighten things out.

Whitey Bulger’s Defense to Reveal Widespread FBI Complicity |T.J. English |July 30, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
Smith did her best, at that press conference, to straighten the whole mess out.

Whose Elephant Is It? |Winston Ross |December 9, 2012 |DAILY BEAST

Fox, herself a Navy veteran, tried to straighten things out—and for that, she lost her job.

Accuracy Falls by Wayside as VA Rushes to Clear Vast Backlog |Aaron Glantz |November 9, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
Then from the little clump of trees came the hoot of an owl that caused him to straighten up quickly and to listen intently.

The Cave of Gold |Everett McNeil
Just come and have a talk with Miz T. She'll straighten you around all right.

The Gold Girl |James B. Hendryx
It was a formality, he said, to straighten out some tangle, so I did it.

The Best Policy |Elliott Flower
Whatever snarls and tangles have gotten into your threads, time and patience will straighten and unravel.

The Price of the Prairie |Margaret Hill McCarter
"I know——" declared Isobel, feeling that, because she was a Senior, she must straighten out this tangle.

Highacres |Jane Abbott

straighten

/ (ˈstreɪtən) /

to make or become straight

(tr) to make neat or tidy straighten your desk

straightener, noun