prolonging 1 of 2

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

prolonging

2 of 2

verb

present participle of prolong

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
The prolonging of the war has also ratcheted up Israel’s isolation on the world stage. New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
Democrats criticized House Republicans for remaining away from Washington, arguing that their absence is prolonging the crisis and deepening hardship for workers and families nationwide. Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025 The judges also now try to cram multiple cases into a time block that previously would’ve been reserved for one case, attorneys said, prolonging and straining the rare individualized — and critical — court hearings that often determine an immigrant’s fate. Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 22 Oct. 2025 Republicans in Washington have accused the protesters of prolonging the govenment shutdown, as well as hating America, being terrorists or belonging to Antifa, a loose group of anti-fascists. Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025 The prime minister’s critics, including some hostage families, have long accused him of prolonging the war to distract from multiple political scandals, at the expense of recovering the hostages. Kara Fox, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025 Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trial has been looming in the backdrop of the war, with opponents accusing the Israeli prime minister of prolonging the conflict to delay his own legal proceedings. Yamiche Alcindor, NBC news, 14 Oct. 2025 The Prime Minister’s critics, even within his coalition, have long accused him of prolonging the war for political survival. Eric Cortellessa, Time, 11 Oct. 2025 Some cautioned that another prime minister picked from the ranks of Macron's fragile centrist camp would risk being disavowed by Parliament's powerful lower house, prolonging the crisis. NPR, 10 Oct. 2025 Nuts Different types of nuts, like almonds, are a key snack for prolonging energy. Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 29 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prolonging
Noun
  • Adam Murray, a beef cattle extension specialist at Cornell University, said Trump’s plan to cut beef prices isn’t likely to significantly impact domestic beef prices.
    Mackensy Lunsford, Nashville Tennessean, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Lionel Messi has signed a contract extension with Inter Miami, the MLS club announced Thursday.
    Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Officials warn that attacks may also occur on remote islands, lengthening the response time of authorities in the event of an emergency.
    Ashley J. DiMella, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Each year, the mining site crept farther south as deposits dwindled, lengthening her father’s commute.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • China’s Seafaring History (Smithsonian Magazine) by Sean Kingsley China has a history of maritime trade extending to West Africa, the Mediterranean, and much of Asia that goes back to the first millennium.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Kansas City Chiefs rookie left tackle Josh Simmons missed his third straight game Monday night against the Washington Commanders, extending an absence from the team that began in mid-October.
    Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Regular stretching and yoga may help improve arterial stiffness and complement aerobic exercise.
    Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 24 Oct. 2025
  • If your hamstrings always feel tight, endless stretching won’t help.
    Dana Santas, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The organization’s Green Heart Project, which studies the impact of better air quality on heart disease through urban greening, has found that increasing the number of trees and shrubs in an area can create lower levels of a blood marker associated with inflammation.
    Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Coffee prices have been increasing sharply since the start of this year.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prolonging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prolonging. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on prolonging

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!