STRETCHING Synonyms: 140 Similar and Opposite Words

stretching 1 of 2

noun

Definition of stretching next

as in extension

the act of making longer excessive stretching can cause the fabric to tear or lose its elasticity

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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

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stretching

2 of 2

verb

present participle of stretch

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

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as in pulling

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

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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

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as in trying

to subject (a personal quality or faculty) to often excessive stress your whining is stretching my patience to the limit

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as in tightening

to draw tight if the canvas isn't properly stretched over the frame, there will be sagging over time

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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 stretching

Noun

The room is outfitted with a NordicTrack Treadmill, Peloton Bikeand a Forme Workout Mirror, as well as yoga mats for pre- or post-workout stretching. —

Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026 To add some movement to your day-to-day, consider walking, light stretching, or even active chores like gardening. —

Petra Guglielmetti, Glamour, 14 May 2026 With cottages in the Malibu mountains and a stone mansion in Hudson Valley, The Ranch combines early mornings, long mountain hikes and strength training with yoga and stretching. —

Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 13 May 2026 Later in the day, meditation sessions are also free for guests, one of the many options from the activity calendar that includes garden cricket, croquet, volleyball, basketball and bocce ball activities as well as core exercise and stretching classes. —

Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 May 2026 Find ways to relax before bed, such as reading, stretching, meditating, or listening to music. —

Jessica Swirble, Verywell Health, 11 May 2026 Pair cold plunges with stretching, massage or other techniques rather than relying on the cold alone. —

Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 9 May 2026 Bell, who sustained a torn ACL in a college game last November, participated in stretching but not in individual drills on Friday. —

Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 8 May 2026 Releasing fascia, such as by stretching or massage, can help reduce anxiety, increase feelings of calm, and regulate sleep patterns, Cromer says. —

Scott Haak, EverydayHealth.com, 6 May 2026

Verb

The Cascadia Subduction Zone is a 700-mile fault stretching from Northern California to British Columbia and separates the Juan de Fuca and North America tectonic plates, according to the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (PNSN). —

Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 14 May 2026 Rai said the additional five years, stretching the patent from 2026 to 2031, likely stem from the Hatch-Waxman Act, a 1984 law that allows drugmakers to extend patents by up to five years to make up for time lost moving their drug through clinical trials and the FDA approval process. —

Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 13 May 2026 The performances drive it all with both stars pushing and stretching themselves. —

Randy Myers, Mercury News, 13 May 2026 The marine heat wave has developed across much of the West Coast, stretching from Washington to California. —

Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 12 May 2026 Alcorn described the underground area as a narrow utility channel stretching roughly 40 feet beneath the overpass. —

Anthony Galaviz may 11, Sacbee.com, 11 May 2026 Looking beyond the main structure captured by Webb, the galaxy’s spiral arms extend into a faint, wide ring of hydrogen gas stretching thousands of light-years. —

Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 10 May 2026 Entertainment, stretching from Sinatra to Snoop Dogg. —

Terence Moore, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026 The Moon in Capricorn moves through your 3rd House, opposing Jupiter in your 9th, stretching the gap between details and interpretation. —

Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 7 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretching

Noun

All three foundational stars signed contract extensions and took pay cuts in the offseason — part of a group effort to help the team stay competitive and give Sauvageau more cap room to work with.

— Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 21 May 2026
The service South Africa’s hospitality culture, to many, is par excellence, and Echo’s nearly all-South African front-of-house team feels like a natural extension of this (just in briskier climes).

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 May 2026