LENGTHENS Synonyms: 25 Similar and Opposite Words

lengthens

verb

present tense third-person singular of lengthen

as in extends

to make longer I had to lengthen the handle of the paint roller in order to reach the top of the wall

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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 lengthens The formula pairs glycerin and flexible polymers to coat and define every lash without weighing them down, while the dual-length brush prevents clumps and lengthens from root to tip. — Madison San Miguel, Allure, 15 Oct. 2026 Aerohart also lengthens the Aviator's Ember to give users more leverage in plunging the piston. — New Atlas, 8 Oct. 2026 Bregman’s improvement has been a complement to Pete Crow-Armstrong’s incredible season and lengthens the Cubs lineup. — Andy Martinez, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026 Farther still, as the road straightens and lengthens, the view is of open space. — Literary Hub, 1 Sep. 2026 The sideways lean becomes a forward one, the gap between his legs increases, and his feet begin landing beneath or slightly behind his centre of mass as his stride lengthens. — Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026 Tucking your chin gently toward the floor while lying down lengthens the back of the neck. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026 Its bitterness opens the palate, while the tea lengthens the drink without relying on more alcohol. — Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026 The secret is to choose a top with vertical details—think visible buttons, linear embroidery, or a high neck that visually lengthens the torso. — René Chávez Esparza, Glamour, 9 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lengthens

Verb

His work at times extends beyond Ghana to include international like with people like the Kenyan British artist Michael Armitage and his Nairobi Contemporary Art Institute.

— Gameli Hamelo, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Prediction extends beyond the cerebral cortex The researchers used machine learning to determine whether brain activity patterns could distinguish between visual and tactile experiences.

— Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of extends

Verb

If Skydance increases spending on content, that could push its competitors to also invest more, Laurent Yoon, senior analyst at the research and brokerage firm Bernstein, told me.

— Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Though this increases the X-Y dimensions, Apple worked closely with the system team to ensure the phones' internals could support this slightly larger package.

— Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of increases

Verb

Not far from my home on the western shore of Lake Champlain lies the ore bed that in 1875 produced 10 percent of America’s iron ore; the #21 pit, once storied, stretches two hundred feet wide and three hundred feet deep.

— Bill McKibben, The New York Review of Books, 17 Oct. 2026
Its border with Yemen stretches more than 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) through rugged desert areas.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of stretches

Verb

The vote prolongs the crisis and raises the chance of early elections at a time of regional security concerns, with the NATO member confronting a sharp increase in drone incursions linked to Russia’s war in neighboring Ukraine.

— Stephen McGrath, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
For other digital-asset businesses, however, the failure prolongs uncertainty.

— Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of prolongs

Verb

Spanx’s Authentic 360 jeans feature subtly stretchy fabric that maintains its structure, built-in shaping panels that smooth the stomach, waist, and back, and a casual-cool raw hem kick flare that elongates the legs.

— Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Oct. 2026
It’s made from 98 percent cotton with a hint of elastane, offering a comfortable, stretchy, and figure-flattering fit that accentuates my waistline, while the not-too-short hem elongates my legs.

— Ali Faccenda, InStyle, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of elongates

Browse Nearby Words

lengthening

lengthens

lengthiness

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“Lengthens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lengthens. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of lengthens

verb

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