1
as in extension
the act of making longer
excessive stretching can cause the fabric to tear or lose its elasticity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in exaggeration
the representation of something in terms that go beyond the facts
your constant stretching of the truth is going to get you in trouble someday
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in exaggerating
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 pulling
to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure
I stretched a back muscle, and the pain is killing me
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in lengthening
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
as in trying
to subject (a personal quality or faculty) to often excessive stress
your whining is stretching my patience to the limit
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in tightening
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
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Recent Examples of stretching
Hannah Harper,
Health,
1 July 2026
Pre-production ran from January to April 2025, with post-production stretching from May 2025 through March 2026.
—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
30 June 2026
When the bullhorn blared and the stretching ended, more than 80 Falcons players clad in red and white scattered in different directions.
—
Daniel Flick,
AJC.com,
27 June 2026
Conditions including low humidity and strong winds triggered red flag warnings across a wide swath stretching from California to southern Arizona and New Mexico.
—
Ty Oneil,
Arkansas Online,
26 June 2026
This coating also helps to prevent fading, stretching, and pilling.
—
Molly Burford,
Southern Living,
26 June 2026
Home exercises such as yoga, stretching, free weights, swimming, or brisk walking can be incredibly beneficial, particularly for older people.
—
Mark Stibich,
Verywell Health,
25 June 2026
What matters is that the activity feels new and a little stretching for both partners.
—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
25 June 2026
Michelle is way ahead of me on the whole stretching and flexibility tip.
—
Janine Rubenstein,
PEOPLE,
24 June 2026
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
3 July 2026
There are brisk 7am forest walks, group yoga, breath work, and a class on Lanserhof healing exercises, which combine stretching, tapping, and movement.
—
Clare Coulson,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 July 2026
Cast your eye over the 2,000-acre Fairmount Park stretching northwest and, due east, to the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, which this year celebrates its own centennial.
—
Regan Stephens,
New York Times,
2 July 2026
Construction on the complete solar array is slated to span the next two years, stretching through 2026 and into 2027.
—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
2 July 2026
This can be avoided by squatting, stretching and loosening up your joints before jumping.
—
Bestreviews,
Mercury News,
2 July 2026
Warm evenings, late sunsets, and relaxing summer nights set the stage for a month filled with celestial highlights from a pair of meteor showers to beautiful moon pairings and the luminous core of the Milky Way stretching across the sky.
—
Michael D'estries,
Travel + Leisure,
1 July 2026
What foundation needs your attention before stretching?
—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
26 June 2026
October 23 – November 21 What foundation needs your attention before stretching?
—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 June 2026
Noun
Unlike dynamic stretching, static stretching holds muscles in a lengthened position for an extended period.
—
Hannah Harper,
Health,
1 July 2026
Pre-production ran from January to April 2025, with post-production stretching from May 2025 through March 2026.
—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
30 June 2026
When the bullhorn blared and the stretching ended, more than 80 Falcons players clad in red and white scattered in different directions.
—
Daniel Flick,
AJC.com,
27 June 2026
Conditions including low humidity and strong winds triggered red flag warnings across a wide swath stretching from California to southern Arizona and New Mexico.
—
Ty Oneil,
Arkansas Online,
26 June 2026
This coating also helps to prevent fading, stretching, and pilling.
—
Molly Burford,
Southern Living,
26 June 2026
Home exercises such as yoga, stretching, free weights, swimming, or brisk walking can be incredibly beneficial, particularly for older people.
—
Mark Stibich,
Verywell Health,
25 June 2026
What matters is that the activity feels new and a little stretching for both partners.
—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
25 June 2026
Michelle is way ahead of me on the whole stretching and flexibility tip.
—
Janine Rubenstein,
PEOPLE,
24 June 2026
Verb
Since then, the United States has expanded from 13 colonies along the Atlantic coast to 50 states stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific and beyond.
—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
3 July 2026
There are brisk 7am forest walks, group yoga, breath work, and a class on Lanserhof healing exercises, which combine stretching, tapping, and movement.
—
Clare Coulson,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 July 2026
Cast your eye over the 2,000-acre Fairmount Park stretching northwest and, due east, to the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, which this year celebrates its own centennial.
—
Regan Stephens,
New York Times,
2 July 2026
Construction on the complete solar array is slated to span the next two years, stretching through 2026 and into 2027.
—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
2 July 2026
This can be avoided by squatting, stretching and loosening up your joints before jumping.
—
Bestreviews,
Mercury News,
2 July 2026
Warm evenings, late sunsets, and relaxing summer nights set the stage for a month filled with celestial highlights from a pair of meteor showers to beautiful moon pairings and the luminous core of the Milky Way stretching across the sky.
—
Michael D'estries,
Travel + Leisure,
1 July 2026
What foundation needs your attention before stretching?
—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
26 June 2026
October 23 – November 21 What foundation needs your attention before stretching?
—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretching
Noun
-
Pavel Mintyukov signs contract extension with Ducks Defenseman Pavel Mintyukov has agreed to five-year contract extension worth $36 million with the Ducks, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told the Associated Press.
-
The 49ers have been looking for a trade partner for Aiyuk, who signed a four-year, $120 million extension with the 49ers in August 2024.
Noun
-
Pirate ship is no exaggeration.
-
But the fastest swimming speed claims are almost certainly indefensible exaggerations.
Verb
-
Jan Paul van Hecke of the Netherlands has been involved in two scraps already, the latest when he was hit while going for a header and crumbled, perhaps exaggerating a tad, after Morocco's Azzedine Ounahi challenged the header, as well.
-
The four-time Olympian was not exaggerating.
Verb
-
And often, data centers are pulling from municipal water supplies, Anisfeld said.
-
Haaland’s winning goal came after another bout of yanking and pulling; the striker tried to free himself by slapping the defender’s arm away, eventually just carrying on regardless.
Verb
-
These large-range movements keep your body moving through the stretch, shortening and lengthening your muscles.
-
This cropped wide-leg style is made from lightweight denim that feels especially suited for summer, with a leg-lengthening high waist and relaxed shape.
Verb
-
Brownell is trying Lynkuet, a non-hormonal drug to help with hot flashes and night sweats.
-
Brennan, though, throws the first wrench into the works by instead trying to establish his credibility.
Verb
-
High-end and super-premium American whiskey volumes have grown substantially over the past decade, tightening availability of exactly the kind of aged inventory that investors are helping to create.
-
FedEx Freight says tightening truckload capacity is beginning to push heavier shipments back into the less-than-truckload (LTL) network, offering another clear sign that freight demand is stabilizing after a prolonged downturn.
Noun
-
Olikara, who grew up around Wisconsin’s farmland, bristles at how routinely rural America is flattened into caricature.
-
Honestly, Suzie has been a caricature of a demanding boss straight from some sort of rom-com situation, but Paula finally dresses her down here and the scene is delightful.
Cite this Entry
“Stretching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stretching. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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