PROLONGING Synonyms: 33 Similar and Opposite Words

prolonging 1 of 2

noun

as in extension

the act of making longer his habitual prolonging of any task so that it fills up an entire afternoon

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

prolonging

2 of 2

verb

present participle of prolong

as in lengthening

to make longer would like to prolong our vacation by any means possible

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 prolonging

Noun

Looking ahead, Trump’s prolonging of Chavismo is a political gamble in Florida – a state where many Latin Republican voters despise the system and any dealing with socialist governments. — Paul Webster Hare, The Conversation, 19 Jan. 2026 The prolonging of the war has also ratcheted up Israel’s isolation on the world stage. — New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025

Verb

The Chicago Department of Transportation says its work on the Lake Street Bridge project will need additional time to complete, prolonging Green and Pink Line service disruptions. — Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026 Bolsonaro has already challenged the results, prolonging the political flux and adding fresh pressure to the currency. — Marta Biino, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026 Trump has accused the Ukrainian president of not wanting peace, while Zelenskyy has argued that Washington's easing of sanctions on Russia, including a deal on diesel, risks prolonging the conflict. — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026 Many of his domestic critics have faulted him for prolonging the war in Gaza to appease his far-right allies, and for permitting ultra-Orthodox Jews to forgo military service to appease that sizable religious voter bloc. — Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026 Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains dangerous and constrained, prolonging uncertainty over oil supplies and fuel prices. — Cathy Bussewitz, Chicago Tribune, 17 Oct. 2026 Trump initially promised to end it in weeks, and Democrats, including Newsom, have criticized him for prolonging the conflict. — Chad De Guzman, Time, 7 Oct. 2026 Milk contains protein and carbohydrates, which slow digestion, prolonging the presence of water in the body. — Veronica Cristino, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2026 Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also said foreign powers are central to prolonging the war. — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 28 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for prolonging

Noun

Unlike Mack, whom the Bears had to pay after acquiring him from the Oakland Raiders, the Titans already did the contract for Simmons, signing him to an extension in June that included a $20 million signing bonus.

— Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026
And regardless of when that suspension comes, the new allegations are a black eye against Jacobs and the Packers by extension for continuing to support a player who carries an expanding list of domestic abuse allegations.

— Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of extension

Verb

Longini explained that climate change is increasing mosquito populations and lengthening their active seasons, contributing to dengue’s spread globally.

— Alex DeLuca, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
In both countries, falling fertility rates and lengthening lifespans keep worsening the fiscal picture.

— NIALL FERGUSON, Foreign Affairs, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of lengthening

Verb

Assemblyman Nick Schultz floated the idea of extending the expiration date of the state program, which is currently set to sunset in 2030, as a way of offering greater certainty to productions.

— Gene Maddaus, Variety, 30 Oct. 2026
That makes proposals such as extending the sales tax to more services or taxing retirement income, both of which Pritzker has repeatedly rejected, politically unpalatable.

— Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of extending

Noun

Other days included yoga and stretching, catching hundreds of balls on the Jugs machine or recovering at Kollective, a social performance club in Austin.

— Sam Jane, Denver Post, 10 Oct. 2026
Daily laundry service after a day spent hiking, stretching, and sprinting is a welcome bonus.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of stretching

Verb

But the company’s stock has gone nowhere over the past two years, as Instacart struggled to find new paths to growth while facing increasing competition from Amazon and Walmart’s grocery-delivery offerings.

— Rob Wile, NBC news, 29 Oct. 2026
For a while, the music hangs there, pieces echoing each other with increasing intensity.

— Vanessa Ague, Pitchfork, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of increasing

Browse Nearby Words

prolonged

prolonging

prolongs

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“Prolonging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prolonging. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of prolonging

noun

verb

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