over·stretch
ˈō-vər-ˌstrech 
plural overstretches
: the act or an instance of stretching something beyond normal limits
an overstretch of political power
… a classic case of military and economic overstretch.—
Robert G. Patman
Robert G. Patman
over·stretch
ˌō-vər-ˈstrech
overstretched; overstretching
: to stretch (something or someone) to excess or beyond normal limits
Worsted yarn, and any yarn inclined to "kink" should be weighted slightly as it dries, but take care not to overstretch the wool.—Eileen Hobden
Eileen Hobdentemperature changes causing the tire to overstretch
They overstretched [=overextended] themselves financially.
Too few staff means overstretched [=overburdened] crews and patients waiting for longer.—Christina McAnea
Christina McAneaExamples of overstretch in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebHal Brands, The Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2024
The Navy’s overstretch may have also contributed to a pair of tragic accidents.
—Gil Barndollar, TIME, 12 Feb. 2024
Such a reduction would also lower the risk of military overstretch and create space for Washington to develop a more holistic economic and political approach to the region.
—Jennifer Kavanagh, Foreign Affairs, 24 Nov. 2023
The overriding issue here is what the Yale historian Paul Kennedy called imperial overstretch.
—Frank Costigliola, Foreign Affairs, 27 Jan. 2023
Stephanie H. Murray, The Atlantic, 21 Mar. 2024
Relief efforts in Gaza are already overstretched, as trucks and fuel remain in short supply.
—Alex Horton, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024
Officials have attributed those schedule changes to the impacts of last July’s redistricting and the need to be cautious about overstretching the program.
—Darcy Costello, Baltimore Sun, 8 Feb. 2024
These cuts had left trust and safety teams overstretched, two of these senior sources say.
—WIRED, 20 Nov. 2023
Accounts from Myanmar army soldiers who have surrendered or defected over the past three months reveal that the military is suffering from plunging morale and overstretched logistics amid a rebel offensive that has prompted mass surrenders.
—Rebecca Tan, Washington Post, 14 Feb. 2024
For the British, gaining newfound territory while being financially and logistically overstretched, meant trying to run the newest parts of their empire—including the Palestine mandate—informally and on the cheap.
—TIME, 1 Feb. 2024
Starbucks has taken steps to address workers’ complaints about being overstretched in stores.
—Noam Scheiber, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2024
These changes would amount to a major shift for U.S. policy in the Middle East, away from a U.S.-led security-heavy model toward a more balanced approach that carries less of a risk of escalation or overstretch and that allows regional powers to take the lead.
—Jennifer Kavanagh, Foreign Affairs, 24 Nov. 2023
Noun
If this sounds like an exaggeration, perhaps that’s because many critics of American policy are more interested in errors that come from overstretch rather than errors that come from under-stretch, even though the latter can more lethal than the former.
—Hal Brands, The Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2024
The Navy’s overstretch may have also contributed to a pair of tragic accidents.
—Gil Barndollar, TIME, 12 Feb. 2024
Such a reduction would also lower the risk of military overstretch and create space for Washington to develop a more holistic economic and political approach to the region.
—Jennifer Kavanagh, Foreign Affairs, 24 Nov. 2023
The overriding issue here is what the Yale historian Paul Kennedy called imperial overstretch.
—Frank Costigliola, Foreign Affairs, 27 Jan. 2023
Verb
In a care home, Pepper might help keep an eye on residents, entertain them with games and jokes, or simply offer some of the friendly interaction that overstretched staff cannot.
—Stephanie H. Murray, The Atlantic, 21 Mar. 2024
Relief efforts in Gaza are already overstretched, as trucks and fuel remain in short supply.
—Alex Horton, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024
Officials have attributed those schedule changes to the impacts of last July’s redistricting and the need to be cautious about overstretching the program.
—Darcy Costello, Baltimore Sun, 8 Feb. 2024
These cuts had left trust and safety teams overstretched, two of these senior sources say.
—WIRED, 20 Nov. 2023
Accounts from Myanmar army soldiers who have surrendered or defected over the past three months reveal that the military is suffering from plunging morale and overstretched logistics amid a rebel offensive that has prompted mass surrenders.
—Rebecca Tan, Washington Post, 14 Feb. 2024
For the British, gaining newfound territory while being financially and logistically overstretched, meant trying to run the newest parts of their empire—including the Palestine mandate—informally and on the cheap.
—TIME, 1 Feb. 2024
Starbucks has taken steps to address workers’ complaints about being overstretched in stores.
—Noam Scheiber, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2024
These changes would amount to a major shift for U.S. policy in the Middle East, away from a U.S.-led security-heavy model toward a more balanced approach that carries less of a risk of escalation or overstretch and that allows regional powers to take the lead.
—Jennifer Kavanagh, Foreign Affairs, 24 Nov. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overstretch.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near overstretch
Cite this Entry
“Overstretch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overstretch. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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