as in lengthened
to make longer
the highway project was protracted by years of litigation
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in prolonged
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of protracted
Brittany Shepherd, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2025
The alternative is a protracted and costly legal battle.
—Vincent Turley, Hartford Courant, 21 Aug. 2025
Has the Jewish state and its military made mistakes during its protracted and brutal war with Hamas?
—Avi Weiss, New York Daily News, 10 Aug. 2025
Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Her decision to accept voluntary departure shows that immigrants who grew up in the United States, many with no criminal record, are choosing to leave on their own accord rather than endure months of detention and protracted legal battles.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
These states, Texas, California, and everybody who follows, red and blue, are now going to be locked in court fights, protracted legal battles.
—NBC news, 17 Aug. 2025
Zombies are what happen when a juvenile life stage is unnaturally protracted.
—Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2025
Today’s deal closure brings to an end the longest, most protracted, and hectic example of M&A activity in recent Hollywood memory.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2025
However, as suggested here, some impacts may be no less harmful or protracted.
—New Atlas, 6 Aug. 2025
Verb
Ernst was a focus of major attention during the protracted discussion over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's confirmation.
—Brittany Shepherd, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2025
The alternative is a protracted and costly legal battle.
—Vincent Turley, Hartford Courant, 21 Aug. 2025
Has the Jewish state and its military made mistakes during its protracted and brutal war with Hamas?
—Avi Weiss, New York Daily News, 10 Aug. 2025
Adjective
The dialogue becomes rather protracted as the person pours out their heart.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Her decision to accept voluntary departure shows that immigrants who grew up in the United States, many with no criminal record, are choosing to leave on their own accord rather than endure months of detention and protracted legal battles.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
These states, Texas, California, and everybody who follows, red and blue, are now going to be locked in court fights, protracted legal battles.
—NBC news, 17 Aug. 2025
Zombies are what happen when a juvenile life stage is unnaturally protracted.
—Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2025
Today’s deal closure brings to an end the longest, most protracted, and hectic example of M&A activity in recent Hollywood memory.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2025
However, as suggested here, some impacts may be no less harmful or protracted.
—New Atlas, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protracted
Verb
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To improve safety, the transportation division has lengthened no passing zones and added flashing yellow beacons to no passing zones signs, Ronaldson said.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Sep. 2025
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These changes are usually framed in terms of climate change, which has lengthened fire seasons and weakened ecosystems in complex ways.—
River Selby
August 25,
Literary Hub,
25 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The event underscores growing concerns about extreme weather events in the Southwest, a region already contending with prolonged drought, extreme heat, and expanding urban sprawl that increases vulnerability.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Aug. 2025
-
Abelia makes a good addition to water-wise landscapes, however plants benefit from supplemental irrigation during prolonged dry spells.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The cells extended nerve fibers in both directions, toward the head and tail, to connect with the host spinal tissue.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The takeaway came one play after the Cowboys’ drive was extended by a personal foul on Eagles safety Reed Blankenship on a third-and-22.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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And for several seemingly interminable minutes, POTUS is absent, his video screen in the Situation Room a blank square.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
3 Sep. 2025
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The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo (1985) After what seemed like an interminable period where Scooby-Doo was saddled with his annoying nephew, Scrappy-Doo, viewers finally got a new incarnation of Scooby adventures in 1985.—
Will Harris,
EW.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The win over O’Malley stretched his winning streak to 11 straight.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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On Tuesday, the alert stretched from South Haven, Michigan, to Ludington, Michigan.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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When the front door opens, they’re greeted by an androgynous person with longish hair, thick eyebrows and a deep voice.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
2 Aug. 2025
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Pontiac’s Firebird had a longish life in car years, with four generations spanning 1967 to 2002.—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
27 June 2025
Verb
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For example, Doak kicked on so impressively at Middlesbrough in 2024-25 that his value increased to the point that Bournemouth paid £25m for him.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
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The rate of lifetime depression among women has increased by over 40% in the last decade, yet periods like postpartum and perimenopause remain under-addressed in mainstream mental health care.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Their new collaboration is more satisfying than that uneven and overlong puzzle box, not to mention more readily coherent as a narrative.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Aug. 2025
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Yet the historical resonance falls flat amid the film’s overlong runtime, unlikable characters and shaky accents that most actors stumble in and out of.—
Itzel Luna,
Boston Herald,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Protracted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protracted. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
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