stretch 1 of 3

stretch

2 of 3

verb

1
as in to exaggerate
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
as in to pull
to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure I stretched a back muscle, and the pain is killing me

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3
as in to lengthen
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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4
5
as in to tighten
to draw tight if the canvas isn't properly stretched over the frame, there will be sagging over time

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stretch

3 of 3

adjective

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 stretch
Noun
And rather than travel straight through a stretch between Houston and New Orleans, Osborne prefers to stop in Baton Rouge or take a day off. Glenn Peoples, Billboard, 24 June 2025 Originating in subtropical South America, jacarandas typically bloom around May and June, taking their cue from the season’s first stretch of consistent heat. Malia Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2025
Verb
The fresh data resumes a trend of worsening consumer confidence that stretches back to the outset of 2025. Max Zahn, ABC News, 24 June 2025 The Dade-Collier Airport is located within the Everglades, a subtropical wetland ecosystem stretching across two million acres of central and south Florida. Rachel Treisman, NPR, 24 June 2025
Adjective
The ‘90s Forever Jeans come in both stretch and non-stretch options alongside a high-rise, relaxed fit that’s equally as casual as it is easily dressed up. Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2025 The following year Turkish mill Bossa launched Endless Blue, a line of stretch denim fabrics made with the regenerated cellulose fiber. Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 28 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stretch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretch
Noun
  • Four years ago advances were being made on many of the political issues popular with people whose political views ranged from progressive to centrist such as DEI, ESG, CSR, climate change, the expansion of alternative energy and foreign aid.
    David Hessekiel, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
  • That’s because, when President Barack Obama created DACA in 2012 and sought to expand it via executive order in 2015, a Texas judge blocked the expansion with a nationwide injunction.
    Cassandra Burke Robertson, The Conversation, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • In 2023, city officials announced that a Whole Foods Market would be moving into the space, according to past reporting, after working out a deal with former Blue Goose Market President and CEO Paul Lencioni, who previously served on St. Charles’ City Council.
    Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2025
  • Give emerging brands the ability to prove themselves in the digital world before asking them to fight for a few inches of shelf space.
    Joe Chura, Rolling Stone, 25 June 2025
Noun
  • On the other end of the spectrum, Liquid Web's high-end option (starting at $154 per month) ups the ante by including 32GB of RAM and 960GB of SSD storage.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 17 June 2025
  • At the opposite end of the spectrum, Vermont had the lowest average D score in the nation at 1.96, the only state to have an average D score under 2.
    Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 June 2025
Noun
  • Keep a distance from high profile vehicles such as trucks, buses and vehicles towing trailers.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 22 June 2025
  • Then again, actors who go the distance tend to work with intention instead of throwing themselves at anything and everything.
    Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 21 June 2025
Verb
  • Second, the extent of the controversies has often been exaggerated: a handful of Trump supporters have stuck their heads above the parapet, the media have sniffed drama and written up stories about friction, and nothing has ultimately changed.
    Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 27 June 2025
  • One has been associated with a group that exaggerates the rare risks and harms of vaccines while casting doubt on their benefits.
    Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • Brands began to pull together resources to support refugees.
    Stephan Rabimov, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023
  • The 13-minute performance will likely call for a healthy dose of vibrant, colored lighting to pull it all together.
    Kelly Allen, House Beautiful, 10 Feb. 2023
Verb
  • This presents an opportunity for individuals and professionals alike, as edge is available simply by lengthening one’s time horizon.
    Jeffrey Schulze, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
  • Emily made her tired legs move more quickly, eager for the conversation to be over, but Gen lengthened her stride.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 June 2025
Verb
  • Staff tried to resuscitate him and called 911, but less than an hour later, he was pronounced dead by Miami Fire Rescue Department.
    Syra Ortiz Blanes, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 June 2025
  • Witnesses told police the car’s alarm was going off because the 8-year-old was trying to get out of the car.
    Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Stretch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stretch. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

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