as in lengthened
to make longer
the highway project was protracted by years of litigation
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as in prolonged
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Recent Examples of protracted
Mary Clare Jalonick, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
However, there is little to suggest that the conflict – one of the most protracted and complex conflicts in the world – is easing in any way.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025
Why the odds look better this time The conflict between the Turkish state and the PKK has been one of the most protracted and violent struggles in the world.
—Alpaslan Ozerdem, The Conversation, 2 Sep. 2025
Ernst was a focus of major attention during the protracted discussion over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's confirmation.
—Brittany Shepherd, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2025
The alternative is a protracted and costly legal battle.
—Vincent Turley, Hartford Courant, 21 Aug. 2025
Has the Jewish state and its military made mistakes during its protracted and brutal war with Hamas?
—Avi Weiss, New York Daily News, 10 Aug. 2025
Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2025
That all changed a year ago, when Mohamed — now a rambunctious 13-year-old — was able to enter an innovative self-learning program delivered by UNICEF with funding from Education Cannot Wait (ECW), the global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises hosted by UNICEF.
—Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
In its final episodes, the show builds to a climax that’s protracted over several episodes, drawing out the series’ ideas about masculinity, rage, and forgiveness.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2025
Investing in and becoming Chair of Sipur is her first big move since Paramount’s protracted and high-profile $8B Skydance merger.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2025
Her decision to accept voluntary departure shows that immigrants who grew up in the United States, many with no criminal record, are choosing to leave on their own accord rather than endure months of detention and protracted legal battles.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
These states, Texas, California, and everybody who follows, red and blue, are now going to be locked in court fights, protracted legal battles.
—NBC news, 17 Aug. 2025
Zombies are what happen when a juvenile life stage is unnaturally protracted.
—Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2025
Today’s deal closure brings to an end the longest, most protracted, and hectic example of M&A activity in recent Hollywood memory.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
What neither side has devised is an easy offramp to prevent what could become a protracted closure.
—Mary Clare Jalonick, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
However, there is little to suggest that the conflict – one of the most protracted and complex conflicts in the world – is easing in any way.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025
Why the odds look better this time The conflict between the Turkish state and the PKK has been one of the most protracted and violent struggles in the world.
—Alpaslan Ozerdem, The Conversation, 2 Sep. 2025
Ernst was a focus of major attention during the protracted discussion over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's confirmation.
—Brittany Shepherd, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2025
The alternative is a protracted and costly legal battle.
—Vincent Turley, Hartford Courant, 21 Aug. 2025
Has the Jewish state and its military made mistakes during its protracted and brutal war with Hamas?
—Avi Weiss, New York Daily News, 10 Aug. 2025
Adjective
And any move to revoke a station license would result in lengthy, protracted legal challenges.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2025
That all changed a year ago, when Mohamed — now a rambunctious 13-year-old — was able to enter an innovative self-learning program delivered by UNICEF with funding from Education Cannot Wait (ECW), the global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises hosted by UNICEF.
—Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
In its final episodes, the show builds to a climax that’s protracted over several episodes, drawing out the series’ ideas about masculinity, rage, and forgiveness.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2025
Investing in and becoming Chair of Sipur is her first big move since Paramount’s protracted and high-profile $8B Skydance merger.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2025
Her decision to accept voluntary departure shows that immigrants who grew up in the United States, many with no criminal record, are choosing to leave on their own accord rather than endure months of detention and protracted legal battles.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
These states, Texas, California, and everybody who follows, red and blue, are now going to be locked in court fights, protracted legal battles.
—NBC news, 17 Aug. 2025
Zombies are what happen when a juvenile life stage is unnaturally protracted.
—Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2025
Today’s deal closure brings to an end the longest, most protracted, and hectic example of M&A activity in recent Hollywood memory.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protracted
Verb
-
As the evening lengthened, though, the room grew more and more unified in opposition.—
Christopher Bonanos,
Curbed,
24 Sep. 2025
-
The adjustable shoulder strap can be shortened or lengthened to find your perfect fit.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Creativity is one characteristic the Giants haven’t lacked during the prolonged funk that has encompassed the franchise.—
Dan Duggan,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Yet, if a person is not appropriately dressed or is unable to regulate the temperature, prolonged exposure to any environment that is cooler than the body might result in hypothermia.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Hailey Bieber extended The Row’s $890 City sandal into fall this week in Los Angeles, while Kendall Jenner wore the same style on repeat in New York.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Democrats have demanded that the subsidies, first put in place in 2021 and extended a year later, be extended again.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Hoping to better understand the demand for smutty scares, Hitchcock and his wife, Alma Reville (Olivia Williams), spend an interminable evening at the theater surrounded by people throwing popcorn and making out while the topless woman onscreen is tortured and killed in a masked man’s dungeon.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Even for Premier League clubs, €75million is a lot of money, and even after some interminable negotiations with Galatasaray, Napoli weren’t budging on their price.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Protect your peace by keeping your word, especially if you’re feeling stretched for time.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Raya somehow managed to throw himself in the air — fully stretched — and get a fingertip to the ball, parrying it out for a corner, which drew a rapturous ovation from the Arsenal fans.—
Dan Sheldon,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
In April, the Legislature approved a bill that increased per-student funding for public schools from $7,771 to $8,162.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Their answers varied greatly, but one area of consensus is that the plan has pulled more state agencies and rural regions into the conversation, which has increased overall awareness of the problem.—
Joan Meiners,
AZCentral.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Musically, Swift’s pivot toward concision feels like a response to claims that her last album was repetitive and overlong.—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Despite spending the whole three-hour awards show telling people that their overlong speeches were losing the Boys & Girls Club of America money, the bit was a ruse.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Protracted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protracted. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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