stretched 1 of 2

stretched

2 of 2

verb

past tense of stretch
1
2
as in pulled
to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure I stretched a back muscle, and the pain is killing me

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
5
as in tightened
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

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 stretched
Adjective
But the case shapes alone tell you Samsung isn’t treating the Wide as a stretched version of the Ultra. Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 Wiley often wears her hair in a stretched state, combing through her gray coils with a blow dryer before doing a braid-out. Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 29 May 2026 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
Verb
Utah's state forester, Jamie Barnes, told reporters that fires across the state this season had been moving in ways that had stretched Utah's firefighting capacity to its limits, with new fires beginning closer to populated areas than in previous years. Willem Marx, NPR, 28 June 2026 Minnesota led 28-16 after the first quarter, then stretched the lead to 45-29 at halftime after holding Dallas to 11-for-37 shooting with eight turnovers before the break. CBS News, 28 June 2026 Meanwhile, disputes within the Johnson administration over how to steer the CARE program stretched from last year up until Ige’s departure. Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2026 Red flag warnings cover the West The warnings stretched from California to Arizona to New Mexico, where firefighters battled several blazes amid windy conditions. Ty Oneil, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2026 The joy crept in after Derek Hill leapt and stretched his arm over the Citi Field center field wall, then threw to the infield, saving what certainly would have been a two-run homer from Juan Soto in Friday’s first inning. Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 27 June 2026 These starts have stretched the state’s wildland firefighting capabilities, State Forester Jamie Barnes said. ABC News, 27 June 2026 Boise’s rough end to May stretched into June, and the first-year club left Madison, Wisconsin, last week surrendering four unanswered goals in the second half for an embarrassing loss. Idaho Statesman, 21 June 2026 The Chicago rapper took the stage before a crowd that stretched throughout the venue, delivering a set that mixed fan favorites with freestyle moments and audience interaction. J.m. Banks june 21, Kansas City Star, 21 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretched
Adjective
  • That starts right up front with a full makeover that pairs a simplified bumper with a set of enlarged LED headlights.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 26 June 2026
  • According to the release, the medical director allegedly signed off on one patient's test results as normal, despite indications that the patient had an enlarged heart.
    Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • Emma Wager, senior policy analyst for the program on the ACA at KFF, said there is fraud in the ACA marketplace, but the scale described by the federal government may be exaggerated.
    Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 29 June 2026
  • One Iranian woman, sporting a Pride flag behind her ear, brushed off the culture clash, saying the media exaggerated most of it.
    Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 27 June 2026
Verb
  • Cape Verde almost pulled the biggest upset in World Cup history.
    Rod Beard, AJC.com, 4 July 2026
  • Garibay’s one-handed save denied Jonathan Ricketts a sure goal in the 64th minute, and Moon pulled a 30-yard opportunity off a poor corner kick clearance just wide left.
    Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • Commissioning budgets have tightened, development cycles have lengthened and the opportunities for growing indies to scale have become increasingly limited.
    K.J. Yossman, Variety, 2 July 2026
  • The hunting season has been lengthened by nearly two months, and there is no bag limit on does.
    Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • Days later, Kelce tried and failed to give her a friendship bracelet with his phone number on it at her Kansas City show, the first domino to fall in the couple’s fabled romance.
    Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 2 July 2026
  • Commissioner Lyle tried to delay the vote, but Commission President Dillon shot it down, saying the City-County Council was waiting on the proposal to be sent their way.
    Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • Interest rates rose, supply chains tightened, equipment costs increased, and project economics deteriorated.
    Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
  • Varsho tightened the score an inning later with his home run off Trent Thornton.
    CBS News, CBS News, 20 June 2026
Adjective
  • Non-padded practices almost always favor defensive linemen, who have less for O-linemen to latch on to as the pass rushers try to speed-rush their way into the backfield.
    Joseph Person, New York Times, 23 June 2026
  • Inside, there’s a padded laptop compartment, two slip pockets, a zip pocket, a water bottle pouch, and an interior key ring holder.
    Destinee Scott, Travel + Leisure, 20 June 2026
Verb
  • The government has extended school closures, and preliminary information suggests that 432 schools in Caracas alone have been damaged.
    Max Saltman, CNN Money, 30 June 2026
  • Gonzalez extended the lead with a two-run single in the ninth.
    LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Stretched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stretched. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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