as in enlarged
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1
as in exaggerated
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
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2
3
as in lengthened
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
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4
as in tried
to subject (a personal quality or faculty) to often excessive stress
your whining is stretching my patience to the limit
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Recent Examples of stretched
Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 19 Feb. 2026
It’s formulated with calcium to promote new cell growth, adenosine to fill in wrinkles, collagen to maintain your skin’s density and thickness, elastin to restore stretched skin, and Vitamin D for rejuvenation.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 30 Jan. 2026
America’s health care system is straining under the twin pressures of an aging population and a stretched pool of health care providers.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2025
Despite this pullback, the stock still trades at a stretched nine times trailing revenue—well above its historical average of three times.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
In downtown Elgin, a crowd stretched from North Grove Avenue to Foundry Park on Route 31 and a similar event brought out hundreds gathered on Randall Road in South Elgin.
—Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
Memphis stretched its advantage to 98-88 entering the fourth.
—CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
Ureña was stretched out as a starter throughout camp.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026
For decades, nightspots have stretched across South Florida, offering entertainment, dancing, music and drinks.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
San Antonio's lead eventually stretched to 38.
—ABC News, 28 Mar. 2026
Cate Charron Protesters unfurled a 520-foot brown paper banner that partially stretched around the Statehouse.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 28 Mar. 2026
During ejection, a moon’s orbit can become highly elongated, generating strong tidal forces as it is repeatedly stretched and compressed by its host planet.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Once activated, the Fe-SMA bars aim to shrink back to their pre-stretched shape.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 19 Feb. 2026
It’s formulated with calcium to promote new cell growth, adenosine to fill in wrinkles, collagen to maintain your skin’s density and thickness, elastin to restore stretched skin, and Vitamin D for rejuvenation.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 30 Jan. 2026
America’s health care system is straining under the twin pressures of an aging population and a stretched pool of health care providers.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2025
Despite this pullback, the stock still trades at a stretched nine times trailing revenue—well above its historical average of three times.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
The Times of India found workers in Chirag Dilli, the city’s dumpling-making capital, so stretched for fuel that some had given up on steaming and had turned operations over to chow mein.
—Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
In downtown Elgin, a crowd stretched from North Grove Avenue to Foundry Park on Route 31 and a similar event brought out hundreds gathered on Randall Road in South Elgin.
—Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
Memphis stretched its advantage to 98-88 entering the fourth.
—CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
Ureña was stretched out as a starter throughout camp.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026
For decades, nightspots have stretched across South Florida, offering entertainment, dancing, music and drinks.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
San Antonio's lead eventually stretched to 38.
—ABC News, 28 Mar. 2026
Cate Charron Protesters unfurled a 520-foot brown paper banner that partially stretched around the Statehouse.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 28 Mar. 2026
During ejection, a moon’s orbit can become highly elongated, generating strong tidal forces as it is repeatedly stretched and compressed by its host planet.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 22 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretched
Adjective
-
In the enlarged vision of the classics slowly taking shape in the American academy, Yanxiao has found an intellectual foothold.—
Chang Che,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Maddix was born by emergency C-section with an enlarged heart that was causing a laundry list of other medical problems.—
Libby Smith,
CBS News,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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There are also credible questions over whether Mills exaggerated his military record during his first campaign.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Slightly shimmering effects reflect light in a subtle way, bringing luminosity without being exaggerated; it can be glazed donut–style chrome, or for a more intense effect try a cat-eye finish.—
Andrea Carbajal,
Glamour,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The North Huntingdon Township Police Department said the homeowner pulled a gun on the utility worker, who was sent to shut off service, and chased him away from his home on Water Street in Ardara.—
Erika Stanish,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
When Tree City Juice & Smoothie Cafe pulled the plug on its two brick-and-mortar restaurants last year, the closures hit home for Bethany Anderson.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But having firefighters wait before starting preparations also delays when they can be dispatched to emergencies, which has lengthened response times — and has likely cost many lives across the city, the 60-page audit says.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
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Analysts also raised concerns about the strength of the 10-year service agreement, suggesting it could be lengthened to hold data center companies accountable for long-term infrastructure costs.—
Francesca Pica,
jsonline.com,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Shortly after, authorities said a second 911 call was made after an apparent miscommunication when the utility worker allegedly tried to stop someone who was driving by for help.—
Erika Stanish,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
She got cut from a team but tried again in eighth grade and started to learn and enjoy the game.—
Charles Baggarly
April 2,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But many of them might have already found that relocating to some countries, or obtaining a second passport in these places, has become harder over the last couple of years as these have tightened residency and descent rules.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
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Israeli authorities have tightened security across Jerusalem’s Old City, limiting gatherings and restricting access to major religious sites due to fears of violence and missile threats tied to the regional war.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The boys donned headgear and faced off, one on one, with padded sticks.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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Your little one will love all of the advanced comfort features, including extra-padded back and seat rests, four-position recline support and 3D AirMesh fabric to keep the seat cool.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In the ’90s and 2000s, under Senegalese presidents Abdou Diouf and Abdoulaye Wade, who extended Leopold Senghor’s vision of art as statecraft, Dak’Art benefited from government backing not just as a matter of policy but because these presidents understood that culture mattered.—
Smooth Nzewi,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Baylor extended its lead to 48-27 during the second half, fueled by a 17-1 scoring run.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stretched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stretched. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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