as in lengthened
to make longer
the highway project was protracted by years of litigation
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in prolonged
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protracted
Adjective
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That being said, this might be the one Philadelphia roster that can absorb a prolonged Embiid absence during the regular season, should the big man continue to miss chunks of games.—
Tony Jones,
New York Times,
12 July 2025 -
Floodwaters can be contaminated with debris, as well as high levels of bacteria, chemicals, waste and other pollutants, which can cause prolonged health risks, the experts said.—
ByMary Kekatos,
ABC News,
11 July 2025
Verb
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This policy appears to have extended to interactions with the press as well.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Apr. 2025
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There, organizers counted 6,000 peaceful protesters who filled the State Street Bridge over the Fox River and extended for several blocks in either direction.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The interminable wait for the most important show on television — And Just Like That… — is nearly over.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
15 Apr. 2025
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He was told to sit on his bunk for the count, an interminable process that involved tallying every prisoner on the farm, from the men locked down in solitary cells to those wrangling cattle in far‑flung fields.—
Literary Hub
July 8,
Literary Hub,
8 July 2025
Adjective
-
Pontiac’s Firebird had a longish life in car years, with four generations spanning 1967 to 2002.—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
27 June 2025
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Word to the wise: the end credits are more like a Marvel movie as they are interrupted by a longish extra scene that includes a special cast member, blues legend Buddy Guy, plus yet another musical number at the end of credits.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Instead of service being needed every 3,000 miles, it is expected to be increased to a range of 15,000 to 20,000 miles.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2025
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The case occurred in a trial that quickly increased the dose of the pill over a short period of time, the spokesperson said.—
Annika Kim Constantino,
CNBC,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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That's not inherently a bad choice, but in this instance the overarching story feels both overlong and underwhelming as tiny pieces of the narrative are introduced without being fully explained.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
7 Apr. 2025
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And Dorian, despite the visual inventiveness on display, does go a bit overboard and overlong at times, particularly in a late, extended scene that makes use of pre-recorded outdoor footage that allows more than one Snook to race through a forest.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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While the overall economic forecast remains ambiguous due to persistent worries regarding tariffs affecting major trading partners—which may incite inflation and hinder growth—Goldman is projected to gain from robust performance in its trading division.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
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The story, separated into three sections—Blue, Red, and White—travels a spiraled, associative, and fragmented path, making persistent returns to the events connected to the photograph.—
Rachel Vorona Cote,
The Atlantic,
15 July 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Protracted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protracted. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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