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
Kevin Shalvey, ABC News, 24 Feb. 2026
Read the latest updates from the protracted questioning here.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
Violent conflicts have been erupting at a brisk frequency, getting bloodier, and more protracted.
—Galip Dalay, Time, 6 Jan. 2026
South Africa — which is embroiled in a protracted dispute with the US over Pretoria’s Black empowerment laws, among other issues — went further, calling Washington’s move a violation of the UN Charter.
—Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 5 Jan. 2026
Many actors, in Central and Latin America and beyond, have an interest in making this experience a protracted and painful one for the United States.
—Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 4 Jan. 2026
What role, for example, did Brady play in the decision to hire then-73-year-old Pete Carroll to coach a team clearly in need of a protracted rebuild?
—Michael Silver, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
Amid protracted trade tensions with its largest export market, China’s manufacturing activity has slowed for the seventh consecutive month.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 31 Oct. 2025
The subpoenas and tactics at issue in Friday’s statements stem from a protracted and heated legal battle involving Musk.
—Jared Perlo, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2025
Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
In other cases, after long, protracted efforts to force their way from one club to another, the manner of leaving a club is fraught.
—Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
The pending standoff could get ugly, then protracted, maybe consuming an entire season.
—Kevin Sherrington, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026
Like the department’s letter to the Coxes, the response made no mention of whether State Farms’ protracted delays violated laws enforced by the insurance department.
—J.c. Hallman, Oklahoma Watch, 22 Jan. 2026
The pain of the 27-21 loss was slow, protracted, as Miami fought throughout the second half to the point of a possible game-winning drive with two minutes left, only for that drive to end in an interception.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 20 Jan. 2026
Michigan’s winters are severe, protracted, and relentless.
—Connie Etemadi, Freep.com, 17 Jan. 2026
Migration, identity, and the future of the West At the heart of these tensions lies Europe’s protracted migration challenge.
—Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
One can definitely look forward to more focused product development, protracted timescales for characterization projects, and a much heavier focus on monetization right from day one.
—Tim Bajarin, Forbes.com, 5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
What Moscow hoped, according to analysts, would be an elegant decapitation strike lasting mere days quickly became a protracted and bloody brawl.
—Kevin Shalvey, ABC News, 24 Feb. 2026
Read the latest updates from the protracted questioning here.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
Violent conflicts have been erupting at a brisk frequency, getting bloodier, and more protracted.
—Galip Dalay, Time, 6 Jan. 2026
South Africa — which is embroiled in a protracted dispute with the US over Pretoria’s Black empowerment laws, among other issues — went further, calling Washington’s move a violation of the UN Charter.
—Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 5 Jan. 2026
Many actors, in Central and Latin America and beyond, have an interest in making this experience a protracted and painful one for the United States.
—Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 4 Jan. 2026
What role, for example, did Brady play in the decision to hire then-73-year-old Pete Carroll to coach a team clearly in need of a protracted rebuild?
—Michael Silver, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
Amid protracted trade tensions with its largest export market, China’s manufacturing activity has slowed for the seventh consecutive month.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 31 Oct. 2025
The subpoenas and tactics at issue in Friday’s statements stem from a protracted and heated legal battle involving Musk.
—Jared Perlo, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2025
Verb
Desai, whose directorial work at the Taper thus far has brought together rave and rebellion, smoothly merges the Dionysian frenzy of the music with the nonviolent revolution that ended Ferdinand Marcos’ protracted dictatorship in 1986.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
In other cases, after long, protracted efforts to force their way from one club to another, the manner of leaving a club is fraught.
—Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
The pending standoff could get ugly, then protracted, maybe consuming an entire season.
—Kevin Sherrington, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026
Like the department’s letter to the Coxes, the response made no mention of whether State Farms’ protracted delays violated laws enforced by the insurance department.
—J.c. Hallman, Oklahoma Watch, 22 Jan. 2026
The pain of the 27-21 loss was slow, protracted, as Miami fought throughout the second half to the point of a possible game-winning drive with two minutes left, only for that drive to end in an interception.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 20 Jan. 2026
Michigan’s winters are severe, protracted, and relentless.
—Connie Etemadi, Freep.com, 17 Jan. 2026
Migration, identity, and the future of the West At the heart of these tensions lies Europe’s protracted migration challenge.
—Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
One can definitely look forward to more focused product development, protracted timescales for characterization projects, and a much heavier focus on monetization right from day one.
—Tim Bajarin, Forbes.com, 5 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protracted
Adjective
-
Form’s iron-air battery technology offers multiday durations intended to keep the power on during prolonged severe weather events, peak summer demand, or just a particularly cloudy week that weakens solar power.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
28 Feb. 2026
-
His remarks reflected a broader message from Israeli leadership framing the operation as necessary and potentially prolonged.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Holding periods across buyout funds have lengthened, and many assets remain fundamentally strong but difficult to exit at acceptable valuations.—
Sunaina Sinha Haldea,
Fortune,
14 Feb. 2026
-
While that was to be only three weeks, Mohammadi’s time out of prison lengthened, possibly as activists and Western powers pushed Iran to keep her free.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The best Trump comedy for this deeply unpopular and interminable SOTU was on Jimmy Kimmel Live!—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2026
-
The wait to the finish felt interminable.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Penn State extended its lead to 79-74 after a 15-foot jumper by McMiller.—
From wire reports,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Sanchez started with a sheer white base for this extra-long manicure and finished it with a striking silver chrome tip, extended into a delicate line design running down each nail.—
Kara Jillian Brown,
InStyle,
26 Feb. 2026
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
-
The findings come as Americans grapple with an affordability crisis that has stretched across a range of basic expenses, including food, electricity, insurance, health care and housing.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Trump has walked all over Congress but prior presidents of both parties have stretched the bounds of emergency powers.—
Karen Tumulty,
Washington Post,
22 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
The pacing is overlong, removing much of the tension and excitement that make thrillers so fascinating to watch.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
27 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
In addition, there will be increased Tactical Marine Unit and Aircraft Operations Division operations along the border to detect and apprehend criminals, according to the governor’s office.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The number of serious attacks increased from 54 in 2023 to 83 in 2024 and 128 in 2025.—
AREF TUFAHA,
Arkansas Online,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Protracted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protracted. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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