stretch 1 of 3

stretch

2 of 3

verb

1
as in to exaggerate
to add to the interest of by including made-up details it was stretching the truth to say she'd been in the movies: she was once an extra whose scene was cut in the final version

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to pull
to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure I stretched a back muscle, and the pain is killing me

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in to lengthen
to make longer the time it would take to fix the car got stretched from three hours to two days when the part we needed had to be ordered

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
5
as in to tighten
to draw tight if the canvas isn't properly stretched over the frame, there will be sagging over time

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

stretch

3 of 3

adjective

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 stretch
Noun
Marsch will need a possible starter to be locked in for longer stretches. Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 11 June 2025 Representation may also be inspiring greater acceptance in this rural stretch of Colorado. Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 11 June 2025
Verb
The lessons were plentiful on Tuesday – and the reverberations need to stretch well beyond the next few weeks in the Gold Cup. Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 11 June 2025 However, showing up unexpected is harder on the host, who will now have to stretch his four-bean stew to five guests. Judith Martin, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 June 2025
Adjective
The following year Turkish mill Bossa launched Endless Blue, a line of stretch denim fabrics made with the regenerated cellulose fiber. Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 28 Apr. 2025 The reality is, high performers thrive on stretch goals. Mark Murphy, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stretch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretch
Noun
  • The two-story, 135,000-square-foot expansion, designed by Generator Studio, will double the size of the facility and is expected to bring up to 1.5 million people through its doors annually, according to team estimates.
    Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2025
  • LinkedIn’s expansion allows companies to buy First Impression Ads: vertical video ads for single-day campaigns that can target users in specific businesses, and are guaranteed to be the first ad that those members see during the day.
    Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
Noun
  • Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 14 June 2025
  • Our position in quantum, AI, semiconductors, space, and other advanced technology domains will slide.
    David Rosowsky, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
Noun
  • Finally, jamming-resistant links need spectrum licences, custom SIM provisioning, or pirate base-stations smuggled in-country.
    Harry Law, Time, 5 June 2025
  • The most common color for auroras is green, as the human eye is most sensitive to green in the visible color spectrum.
    Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 5 June 2025
Noun
  • The difference is as vast as the straight-line distance of 6,882 miles between Pittsburgh and the Eagles’ home in Daejeon, South Korea.
    Chuck Murr, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
  • Keep a distance from tall, solitary trees or other elevated structures.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 9 June 2025
Verb
  • Another hurdle is getting buy-in from red states, where many politicians have espoused the view that hate crimes and domestic terrorism concerns are exaggerated by liberals to police conservative thought.
    Hannah Allam, ProPublica, 31 May 2025
  • Trump has long been known for his tendency to exaggerate crowd sizes at his rallies and public events, a pattern that dates back to his very first days in office.
    Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 May 2025
Verb
  • Brands began to pull together resources to support refugees.
    Stephan Rabimov, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023
  • The 13-minute performance will likely call for a healthy dose of vibrant, colored lighting to pull it all together.
    Kelly Allen, House Beautiful, 10 Feb. 2023
Verb
  • The wait seemed endless, especially given all the compensatory picks that lengthened the seventh round.
    Michael Silver, New York Times, 20 May 2025
  • And this oversized cut and loose silhouette suits Princess Kate particularly well; the high-waist fit visually lengthens her legs, while the angular cut of the blazer is confident and structured.
    Lina-Marie Baatz, Glamour, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • Measure a neighbor’s trampoline or try one out in a sporting goods store to get a better idea of the best size for you.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2025
  • This has always been an issue with AMD, Nvidia, and Intel's board partners, who try to add things like fancy cooling, lighting, or marginal overclocks to justify raising the price.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 4 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stretch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stretch. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on stretch

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!