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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in lengthening
to make longer
would like to prolong our vacation by any means possible
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prolonging
New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Nik Popli, Time, 3 Feb. 2026
Alongside this, Waight Keller argues that care is also key in prolonging a product’s lifespan.
—Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 29 Jan. 2026
Offensively, Adebayo mustered just six points on 3 for 10 shooting, prolonging one of his worst offensive slumps in memory.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 12 Jan. 2026
The hardy parasite is also highly attuned to threats and responds with formidable defense mechanisms — prolonging a treatment process that’s already months to years long and often fraught with other hurdles and pain.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 10 Jan. 2026
Yet once again, the results came back benign, prolonging the uncertainty and fear.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
Lawson Luckie for 17 yards, prolonging a drive that ended in a 37-yard field goal by Peyton Woodring.
—CBS News, 2 Jan. 2026
His company, led by tech entrepreneurs and car enthusiasts as well as top automotive engineers, carves out a specific niche, born of enjoying cars, and aimed at prolonging the lives of iconic vehicles.
—Paul Ratner, Interesting Engineering, 17 Dec. 2025
Bell noted that Americans’ interest in prolonging life has created a distance with death.
—Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Dec. 2025
Noun
The prolonging of the war has also ratcheted up Israel’s isolation on the world stage.
—New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
In the end, Johnson relied on a combination of White House pressure, late-night negotiations and a reluctant coalition of Republicans and Democrats who agreed that prolonging the shutdown would inflict unnecessary harm on federal workers and the broader economy.
—Nik Popli, Time, 3 Feb. 2026
Alongside this, Waight Keller argues that care is also key in prolonging a product’s lifespan.
—Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 29 Jan. 2026
Offensively, Adebayo mustered just six points on 3 for 10 shooting, prolonging one of his worst offensive slumps in memory.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 12 Jan. 2026
The hardy parasite is also highly attuned to threats and responds with formidable defense mechanisms — prolonging a treatment process that’s already months to years long and often fraught with other hurdles and pain.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 10 Jan. 2026
Yet once again, the results came back benign, prolonging the uncertainty and fear.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
Lawson Luckie for 17 yards, prolonging a drive that ended in a 37-yard field goal by Peyton Woodring.
—CBS News, 2 Jan. 2026
His company, led by tech entrepreneurs and car enthusiasts as well as top automotive engineers, carves out a specific niche, born of enjoying cars, and aimed at prolonging the lives of iconic vehicles.
—Paul Ratner, Interesting Engineering, 17 Dec. 2025
Bell noted that Americans’ interest in prolonging life has created a distance with death.
—Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prolonging
Noun
-
That leaves a short-term patch as the only option to buy more time for negotiations, but Jeffries has already taken another extension off the table.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Feb. 2026
-
The Rams awarded then record-breaking extensions to defensive lineman Aaron Donald, running back Todd Gurley and quarterback Jared Goff.—
Gary Klein,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Spanx AirEssentials Wide-leg Pant These mid-rise, wide-leg pants offer a relaxed fit that creates a leg-lengthening effect.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Below, shop the nine best lengthening mascaras, backed by experts and editors alike.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In fact, extending the lives of the sick and elderly can impose net costs on society’s ledgers, costs which government regulatory analyses typically ignore.—
James Broughel,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The court said the injunction effectively amounted to a universal injunction by extending relief to a sweeping, uncertified class of protesters and observers.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
There’re proper stretching routines.—
Patrick McEnroe,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Some people still call him that, and theorize that the injuries likely have something to do with the style of the team’s play or its approach to strength and conditioning or stretching and recovery.—
Kaitlyn Tiffany,
The Atlantic,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Now, decoupling supply chains are driving manufacturing growth in the West once more, electric vehicles and home heat pumps need to be plugged in, and the makers of AI’s large language models have ever-increasing power needs.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The move marks a broader trend from the brand, which has been increasing its visibility to new markets through the world of sports, and, at the moment, none is hotter than that of F1.—
Blake Buettner,
Robb Report,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prolonging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prolonging. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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