as in prolonged
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as in lengthened
to make longer
the highway project was protracted by years of litigation
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Recent Examples of protracted
Will Graves, Chicago Tribune, 17 May 2026
Two people with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press that the four-time NFL MVP agreed to a one-year deal to return to Pittsburgh on Saturday, ending a protracted decision-making process.
—ABC News, 16 May 2026
The already acrimonious relationship continued to sour amid a protracted and bitter legal battle, and as Dan started dating Kolkena, before eventually proposing to her.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2026
Whether the Russian military is capable of protecting the capital amid a protracted and bloody war with Ukraine appears to be an open question now.
—Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2026
The Ravens conducted a protracted search, hiring Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter — one of Harbaugh’s former assistants — as the franchise’s fourth head coach.
—Michael Silver, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Like past reauthorizations, FISA 702's renewal has sparked a protracted debate on Capitol Hill over if and how the tool should be modified.
—Eric McDaniel, NPR, 17 Apr. 2026
Protesters pointed to the war in Iran, as well as a protracted government funding standoff over immigration enforcement that has left airport security lines snarled and federal workers unpaid.
—Nik Popli, Time, 28 Mar. 2026
Opponents will note the Vietnam draft didn’t prevent a protracted, catastrophic war.
—Zach Iscol, New York Daily News, 23 Mar. 2026
Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 28 May 2026
Russia’s war with Ukraine showed that wars could be protracted and require deep inventories of advanced weapons, Cancian said.
—ABC News, 27 May 2026
And nobody has ever designed a reactor for the moon, a hostile volcanic desert subject to extreme temperature swings, frequent asteroid strikes and protracted quakes.
—Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 19 May 2026
After some protracted legal drama, Subnautica 2 is finally about to launch.
—Jay Peters, The Verge, 30 Apr. 2026
The back-and-forth between Kehoe and Johnson offered a window into a yearslong, protracted debate over Missouri’s gun laws, among the loosest in the nation.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 29 Apr. 2026
An amusing film if not altogether convincing, Lee Cronin’s The Mummy is protracted and exceedingly hampered by imitation.
—Gregory Nussen, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026
Know More Hochstein noted that complex nuclear deals involve protracted negotiations on issues such as verification, enrichment levels, and reporting.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 16 Apr. 2026
Neither side has retreated from their maximalist claims, signaling that talks could be protracted.
—Nancy A. Youssef, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Two people with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press that the four-time NFL MVP agreed to a one-year deal to return to the Steelers on Saturday, ending a protracted decision-making process.
—Will Graves, Chicago Tribune, 17 May 2026
Two people with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press that the four-time NFL MVP agreed to a one-year deal to return to Pittsburgh on Saturday, ending a protracted decision-making process.
—ABC News, 16 May 2026
The already acrimonious relationship continued to sour amid a protracted and bitter legal battle, and as Dan started dating Kolkena, before eventually proposing to her.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2026
Whether the Russian military is capable of protecting the capital amid a protracted and bloody war with Ukraine appears to be an open question now.
—Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2026
The Ravens conducted a protracted search, hiring Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter — one of Harbaugh’s former assistants — as the franchise’s fourth head coach.
—Michael Silver, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Like past reauthorizations, FISA 702's renewal has sparked a protracted debate on Capitol Hill over if and how the tool should be modified.
—Eric McDaniel, NPR, 17 Apr. 2026
Protesters pointed to the war in Iran, as well as a protracted government funding standoff over immigration enforcement that has left airport security lines snarled and federal workers unpaid.
—Nik Popli, Time, 28 Mar. 2026
Opponents will note the Vietnam draft didn’t prevent a protracted, catastrophic war.
—Zach Iscol, New York Daily News, 23 Mar. 2026
Verb
The utilities, by offering to settle in return for an acknowledgment of Gillett’s decision-making, are agreeing to the dismissal – without costs to any party – of what was shaping up as protracted, costly and ultimately losing litigation for the state.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 28 May 2026
Russia’s war with Ukraine showed that wars could be protracted and require deep inventories of advanced weapons, Cancian said.
—ABC News, 27 May 2026
And nobody has ever designed a reactor for the moon, a hostile volcanic desert subject to extreme temperature swings, frequent asteroid strikes and protracted quakes.
—Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 19 May 2026
After some protracted legal drama, Subnautica 2 is finally about to launch.
—Jay Peters, The Verge, 30 Apr. 2026
The back-and-forth between Kehoe and Johnson offered a window into a yearslong, protracted debate over Missouri’s gun laws, among the loosest in the nation.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 29 Apr. 2026
An amusing film if not altogether convincing, Lee Cronin’s The Mummy is protracted and exceedingly hampered by imitation.
—Gregory Nussen, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026
Know More Hochstein noted that complex nuclear deals involve protracted negotiations on issues such as verification, enrichment levels, and reporting.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 16 Apr. 2026
Neither side has retreated from their maximalist claims, signaling that talks could be protracted.
—Nancy A. Youssef, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protracted
Adjective
-
For Knicks fans, the half century since those two titles has been a prolonged excruciation with intermittent periods of thwarted hope.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
30 May 2026
-
Placing foods in plastic containers that are still hot, using containers for an prolonged period and exposing it repeatedly to the dishwasher can all lead to the release of chemicals.—
Gavin Escott,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Ukraine has lengthened its striking arm and is now wreaking havoc across European Russia, much of which is now vulnerable to drone attacks.—
Katya Soldak,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
-
Over the past several decades, as global temperatures have risen, the growing season has lengthened in many parts of North America.—
Levi Keller,
The Conversation,
5 May 2026
Adjective
-
Like a bright headlight facing you dead on or the sudden honk of a loud horn, only the jump scares keep you from falling asleep during the seemingly interminable Passenger.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
22 May 2026
-
Little happens other than chain-smoking, costume changes and interminable shots of color-shifting strobe lighting splaying across the cast’s cheekbones.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
Georgia completely froze its gas tax in March for two months and has extended its freeze as the conflict with Iran continues.—
Camila Domonoske,
NPR,
28 May 2026
-
Some players stand to make more money, or at least have their contract extended sooner, by earning certain honors during specific seasons.—
Tony East,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
The errand conveniently provided the opportunity for a longish highway test of Lexus’ newest luxury people-mover.—
Sponsored Content,
Denver Post,
21 Mar. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
After taking a 50-37 lead into halftime, the Fire stretched their advantage to 25 points in the third quarter.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
31 May 2026
-
The exhibition traces the arc of a career that stretched across nearly seven decades and helped make participation, movement, and perception central concerns of contemporary art.—
Daniel Cassady,
ARTnews.com,
30 May 2026
Adjective
-
Some unnecessary, overlong scenes do drag, allowing the audience to get sidetracked.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
6 May 2026
-
This solid, slightly-overlong watch is best at capturing how time and trauma turn daily life into valuable history.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Despite initial efforts to cool the tank and its contents, incident commander Craig Covey said on May 23 the internal temperature of the tank had increased to 90 degrees, rising about a degree an hour.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
25 May 2026
-
Climate volatility increased, losses became harder to predict, and the cost of absorbing risk rose.—
Richard McCathron,
Fortune,
25 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Protracted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protracted. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
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