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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Tom Williams, New York Times, 17 May 2026
Overcrowded shelters, limited spay-and-neuter access and a shortage of foster homes have created a system stretched beyond capacity.
—Arkansas Online, 17 May 2026
Some argue that parking, sewer and garbage – the infrastructure designed for single-family homes – is being stretched too thin.
—Lee Cowan, CBS News, 17 May 2026
The Strengths And Limits Of The Octopus Analogy Like any powerful analogy, the octopus model is partly accurate and partly stretched.
—Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
Britain answered with a couple of goals through David Clements and Liam Kirk 37 seconds apart still in the first period before Austria stretched the lead with two more goals in the second when the newcomer was restricted to only two shots on goal.
—ABC News, 16 May 2026
The outbreak has stretched across at least 12 counties in Northern California and the Central Coast, far exceeding the typical statewide total of fewer than five cases of mushroom poisonings per year.
—Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 16 May 2026
The big guy in the doorway stretched out his arms, his hands gripping both sides of the knotty pine planks on either side of the door frame, his body filling the space, blocking our way out.
—Literary Hub, 15 May 2026
The hydrogel structure stretched to more than twice its original size before breaking.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 15 May 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 fire extinguisher incident was the latest pitfall in a season that, even by Marseille’s own inherently chaotic standards, has stretched the bounds of credibility.
—Tom Williams, New York Times, 17 May 2026
Overcrowded shelters, limited spay-and-neuter access and a shortage of foster homes have created a system stretched beyond capacity.
—Arkansas Online, 17 May 2026
Some argue that parking, sewer and garbage – the infrastructure designed for single-family homes – is being stretched too thin.
—Lee Cowan, CBS News, 17 May 2026
The Strengths And Limits Of The Octopus Analogy Like any powerful analogy, the octopus model is partly accurate and partly stretched.
—Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
Britain answered with a couple of goals through David Clements and Liam Kirk 37 seconds apart still in the first period before Austria stretched the lead with two more goals in the second when the newcomer was restricted to only two shots on goal.
—ABC News, 16 May 2026
The outbreak has stretched across at least 12 counties in Northern California and the Central Coast, far exceeding the typical statewide total of fewer than five cases of mushroom poisonings per year.
—Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 16 May 2026
The big guy in the doorway stretched out his arms, his hands gripping both sides of the knotty pine planks on either side of the door frame, his body filling the space, blocking our way out.
—Literary Hub, 15 May 2026
The hydrogel structure stretched to more than twice its original size before breaking.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 15 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretched
Adjective
-
During Coulier's six-month checkup and PET scans after his first diagnosis, doctors discovered a flare-up had returned as an enlarged tumor.—
Christina Dugan Ramirez,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
-
Reportedly, this expansion is supported by hardware upgrades, including a more powerful, multi-stage Long March 5B rocket with an enlarged payload fairing.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
City officials say telecom companies have exaggerated the impact of that city law.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Goldman Sachs’ David Mericle suggests this reading has perhaps been exaggerated.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Turkey is undoubtedly one of the pioneers in this field, but others have been steadily following in its footsteps, making many feel as though a carpet has been pulled from under them.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 May 2026
-
Coach Matt Mowry was asked if Acuna was close to being pulled.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
21 May 2026
Verb
-
Ukraine has lengthened its striking arm and is now wreaking havoc across European Russia, much of which is now vulnerable to drone attacks.—
Katya Soldak,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
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Over the past several decades, as global temperatures have risen, the growing season has lengthened in many parts of North America.—
Levi Keller,
The Conversation,
5 May 2026
Verb
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Defenseman Logan Stanley was also out of the lineup because of an injury, and Sam Carrick tried to return too quickly from his injury.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
Stephen Colbert in 2016 tried to bring together a nation that was coming apart.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Parking, long a challenge, has tightened as multiple blocks get redeveloped.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
18 May 2026
-
Dwindling enrollment tightened the budget by $89 million halfway through this school year when the purse was already $100 million thinner than last school year.—
Natalie La Roche Pietri,
Miami Herald,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
The house silhouette embraces classic proportions and is characterized by a natural, lightly padded shoulder with gentle roping at the sleevehead.—
Eric Twardzik,
Robb Report,
20 May 2026
-
The swings have a black metal frame, black metal swing arms, a fabric canopy and a padded brown seat cushion, the report states.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
The disparities also extended to preventable deaths before age 75, including deaths tied to drug overdoses, car crashes and treatable illnesses.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 May 2026
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While it’s suggested early on that Phil has a temper on the ice, flashbacks show viewers that his anger and violence extended to his family as well.—
Katie Mannion,
PEOPLE,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stretched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stretched. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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