as in extensive
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1
as in extended
to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area
the dog had outstretched his legs and was lying across the width of the doorway
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lengthened
to make longer
having outstretched our lunch break beyond all reason, we reluctantly headed back to work
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of outstretched
Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 6 Mar. 2026
Marty Supreme, on which Ronald was a writer and producer as well as the editor, burst onto the awards-season scene in the fall with an arms-outstretched audacity that would make its would-be ping-pong-champ protagonist proud.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2026
Gakpo’s outstretched boot had connected with Ekitike’s header first, redirecting it onto Jones’ head, sending the ball upwards.
—Andy Jones, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2026
Throw passes five inches over the outstretched fingers of their teammates.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
Velez took a short corner from senior Bianca Raskin and floated it over the outstretched arms of Niceville sophomore goalkeeper Eden Shaw from 30 yards out for the winning tally, her seventh goal of the season.
—Gary Curreri, Sun Sentinel, 1 Mar. 2026
For Marta Alamo, unity looks like a white dove with outstretched wings.
—Alyssa N. Salcedo, jsonline.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Wey returned the pass and Muller drove to the net flipping a shot over Svensson Traff’s outstretched glove.
—ABC News, 19 Feb. 2026
The veteran sharpshooter received a pass from fellow newcomer Tyus Jones, took one dribble and drilled an in-rhythm triple over the outstretched arms of Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn.
—Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Second baseman Addison Wittram lines a single past first baseman Aiyana Coleman's outstretched glove.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 6 Mar. 2026
Marty Supreme, on which Ronald was a writer and producer as well as the editor, burst onto the awards-season scene in the fall with an arms-outstretched audacity that would make its would-be ping-pong-champ protagonist proud.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2026
Gakpo’s outstretched boot had connected with Ekitike’s header first, redirecting it onto Jones’ head, sending the ball upwards.
—Andy Jones, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2026
Throw passes five inches over the outstretched fingers of their teammates.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
Velez took a short corner from senior Bianca Raskin and floated it over the outstretched arms of Niceville sophomore goalkeeper Eden Shaw from 30 yards out for the winning tally, her seventh goal of the season.
—Gary Curreri, Sun Sentinel, 1 Mar. 2026
For Marta Alamo, unity looks like a white dove with outstretched wings.
—Alyssa N. Salcedo, jsonline.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Wey returned the pass and Muller drove to the net flipping a shot over Svensson Traff’s outstretched glove.
—ABC News, 19 Feb. 2026
The veteran sharpshooter received a pass from fellow newcomer Tyus Jones, took one dribble and drilled an in-rhythm triple over the outstretched arms of Phoenix Suns forward Ryan Dunn.
—Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 11 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for outstretched
Adjective
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The skull distortion was so extensive that physical reconstruction wasn’t possible.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
7 Mar. 2026
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Treatments are extensive and popular with visitors and locals alike, so be sure to book ahead.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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His concern extended beyond the precise question of the neutrality proclamation; Madison offered a more general admonition against bestowing war powers on a single, potentially flawed individual.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
5 Mar. 2026
-
This academic year, the district extended the school day for elementary students by 20 minutes.—
Mike Danahey,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Holding periods across buyout funds have lengthened, and many assets remain fundamentally strong but difficult to exit at acceptable valuations.—
Sunaina Sinha Haldea,
Fortune,
14 Feb. 2026
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While that was to be only three weeks, Mohammadi’s time out of prison lengthened, possibly as activists and Western powers pushed Iran to keep her free.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The 2020 Democratic presidential primary, the party's last open nominating contest, featured a rush to the left as candidates raced to embrace far-reaching ideas including Medicare-for-all, the Green New Deal and aggressive taxes on billionaires.—
JEFF STEIN THE WASHINGTON POST,
Arkansas Online,
6 Mar. 2026
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But the study provides a tantalizing glimpse of a fundamentally different, far-reaching way of preventing disease.—
Veronique Greenwood,
Time,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Last year, lawmakers boosted the annual amount allocated to the state’s film and TV tax credit program and expanded the criteria for eligible projects in an attempt to lure production back to California.—
Roger Vincent,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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While China’s economy expanded by 5% last year, the country has entered a fourth year of deflation amid real estate slump, weak consumer confidence and local government debt stress.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The lead stretched to 12 early in the third quarter, but slowly and painfully for Parker, the hosts, with Archer attacking the glass, kept pecking away.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
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Meanwhile, working- and middle-class families are stretched thin.—
Tiffany Caban,
New York Daily News,
8 Mar. 2026
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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Impala Platinum has opened formal talks with Zimbabwe’s central bank and lined up meetings with both the South African and Zimbabwean governments to press for clarity on Harare’s export-earnings policy, its CEO told Semafor, escalating a commercial cash-flow dispute into bilateral negotiations.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
9 Mar. 2026
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The 28-year-old California native faces growing as Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have opened a commanding gap atop the tennis world.—
Douglas Robson,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Outstretched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outstretched. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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