as in prolonged
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as in lengthened
to make longer
the highway project was protracted by years of litigation
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Recent Examples of protracted
Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 5 Mar. 2026
Trump has criticized his Democratic predecessors for engaging in protracted conflicts in the Middle East.
—Dan Mangan, CNBC, 5 Mar. 2026
What Moscow hoped, according to analysts, would be an elegant decapitation strike lasting mere days quickly became a protracted and bloody brawl.
—Kevin Shalvey, ABC News, 24 Feb. 2026
Read the latest updates from the protracted questioning here.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
Violent conflicts have been erupting at a brisk frequency, getting bloodier, and more protracted.
—Galip Dalay, Time, 6 Jan. 2026
South Africa — which is embroiled in a protracted dispute with the US over Pretoria’s Black empowerment laws, among other issues — went further, calling Washington’s move a violation of the UN Charter.
—Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 5 Jan. 2026
Many actors, in Central and Latin America and beyond, have an interest in making this experience a protracted and painful one for the United States.
—Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 4 Jan. 2026
What role, for example, did Brady play in the decision to hire then-73-year-old Pete Carroll to coach a team clearly in need of a protracted rebuild?
—Michael Silver, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
J.j. Bailey, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
It could be protracted with many of our troops – MAGA sons and daughters – coming home in body bags.
—John Seiler, Oc Register, 25 Feb. 2026
Regardless of how the administration decides to proceed, there’ll be new legal challenges and protracted confusion.
—Clive Crook, Twin Cities, 25 Feb. 2026
Desai, whose directorial work at the Taper thus far has brought together rave and rebellion, smoothly merges the Dionysian frenzy of the music with the nonviolent revolution that ended Ferdinand Marcos’ protracted dictatorship in 1986.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
The pending standoff could get ugly, then protracted, maybe consuming an entire season.
—Kevin Sherrington, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026
Like the department’s letter to the Coxes, the response made no mention of whether State Farms’ protracted delays violated laws enforced by the insurance department.
—J.c. Hallman, Oklahoma Watch, 22 Jan. 2026
The pain of the 27-21 loss was slow, protracted, as Miami fought throughout the second half to the point of a possible game-winning drive with two minutes left, only for that drive to end in an interception.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 20 Jan. 2026
Michigan’s winters are severe, protracted, and relentless.
—Connie Etemadi, Freep.com, 17 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Many of those surveyed said homelessness, loitering, drug use and public nuisances, along with protracted and intensive municipal construction projects, deter customers from visiting establishments.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 5 Mar. 2026
Trump has criticized his Democratic predecessors for engaging in protracted conflicts in the Middle East.
—Dan Mangan, CNBC, 5 Mar. 2026
What Moscow hoped, according to analysts, would be an elegant decapitation strike lasting mere days quickly became a protracted and bloody brawl.
—Kevin Shalvey, ABC News, 24 Feb. 2026
Read the latest updates from the protracted questioning here.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
Violent conflicts have been erupting at a brisk frequency, getting bloodier, and more protracted.
—Galip Dalay, Time, 6 Jan. 2026
South Africa — which is embroiled in a protracted dispute with the US over Pretoria’s Black empowerment laws, among other issues — went further, calling Washington’s move a violation of the UN Charter.
—Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 5 Jan. 2026
Many actors, in Central and Latin America and beyond, have an interest in making this experience a protracted and painful one for the United States.
—Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 4 Jan. 2026
What role, for example, did Brady play in the decision to hire then-73-year-old Pete Carroll to coach a team clearly in need of a protracted rebuild?
—Michael Silver, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
Verb
Player compensation had to be structured to build investment and reward success, which is what the WNBA’s protracted labor battle is all about.
—J.j. Bailey, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
It could be protracted with many of our troops – MAGA sons and daughters – coming home in body bags.
—John Seiler, Oc Register, 25 Feb. 2026
Regardless of how the administration decides to proceed, there’ll be new legal challenges and protracted confusion.
—Clive Crook, Twin Cities, 25 Feb. 2026
Desai, whose directorial work at the Taper thus far has brought together rave and rebellion, smoothly merges the Dionysian frenzy of the music with the nonviolent revolution that ended Ferdinand Marcos’ protracted dictatorship in 1986.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
The pending standoff could get ugly, then protracted, maybe consuming an entire season.
—Kevin Sherrington, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026
Like the department’s letter to the Coxes, the response made no mention of whether State Farms’ protracted delays violated laws enforced by the insurance department.
—J.c. Hallman, Oklahoma Watch, 22 Jan. 2026
The pain of the 27-21 loss was slow, protracted, as Miami fought throughout the second half to the point of a possible game-winning drive with two minutes left, only for that drive to end in an interception.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 20 Jan. 2026
Michigan’s winters are severe, protracted, and relentless.
—Connie Etemadi, Freep.com, 17 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protracted
Adjective
-
But not all airlines hedge, and those that do are usually only protected for a portion of their fuel needs, meaning prolonged price surges may cause more carriers to raise fares.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 Mar. 2026
-
But not all airlines hedge, and those that do are usually only protected for a portion of their fuel needs, meaning prolonged price surges may cause more carriers to raise fares.—
Rio Yamat,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The season has lengthened by 19 days on average in the southeast specifically, creating a 136 day window where there are no freezes and plants are able to grow and pollinate.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
-
After success at a shorter distance, it was lengthened twice before getting to the full length.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Costly, interminable and unsuccessful wars are not a formula for presidential popularity.—
Steve Chapman,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2026
-
The best Trump comedy for this deeply unpopular and interminable SOTU was on Jimmy Kimmel Live!—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The agreement was initially five years and then was extended another five in 2021, ending July 1.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 Mar. 2026
-
In the end, none of it mattered, because one night later, the espresso-guzzling darlings of the tournament extended a helping hand.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
When the front door opens, they’re greeted by an androgynous person with longish hair, thick eyebrows and a deep voice.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
2 Aug. 2025
-
Pontiac’s Firebird had a longish life in car years, with four generations spanning 1967 to 2002.—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
27 June 2025
Verb
-
David flicked, a 3-pointer swished, and the junior stretched his vocal cords to the cavernous audience at the Coliseum with an early dagger.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2026
-
In the video, Click pointed out that each meal could even be stretched into five servings because of the platters' heft.—
Joseph Erbentraut,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
This solid, slightly-overlong watch is best at capturing how time and trauma turn daily life into valuable history.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
-
The pacing is overlong, removing much of the tension and excitement that make thrillers so fascinating to watch.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
27 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Claude’s daily active users have also increased by more than 140% since January, according to data from SimilarWeb.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
16 Mar. 2026
-
In a decade, spending on street outreach increased by more than 1,000% — now exceeding $300 million a year — while unsheltered homelessness increased by 22%.—
Barbara A. Blair,
New York Daily News,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Protracted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protracted. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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