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
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
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
Victoria Bekiempis, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2025
On Tuesday, Rio de Janeiro’s governor claimed the operation in Alemão was larger than an infamous, protracted security crisis the neighborhood experienced in 2010.
—Gonzalo Zegarra, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025
Supporters lauded the new law, which allows tall buildings along transit corridors, as a breakthrough in the state’s protracted housing crisis.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Oct. 2025
The writing process had grown so protracted that the Duffers had to start feeding draft pages to their department heads so sets and costumes could be ready in time to shoot.
—Kate Aurthur, Variety, 15 Oct. 2025
The reversal was the first step in what will likely be a long, protracted set of legal proceedings.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 15 Oct. 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
Adjective
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
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
Verb
Simmons’ protracted nonpayment also reflects the logistical perils and broader challenges for anyone navigating the legal process.
—Victoria Bekiempis, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2025
On Tuesday, Rio de Janeiro’s governor claimed the operation in Alemão was larger than an infamous, protracted security crisis the neighborhood experienced in 2010.
—Gonzalo Zegarra, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025
Supporters lauded the new law, which allows tall buildings along transit corridors, as a breakthrough in the state’s protracted housing crisis.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Oct. 2025
The writing process had grown so protracted that the Duffers had to start feeding draft pages to their department heads so sets and costumes could be ready in time to shoot.
—Kate Aurthur, Variety, 15 Oct. 2025
The reversal was the first step in what will likely be a long, protracted set of legal proceedings.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 15 Oct. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protracted
Adjective
-
Seismologists described the event as a main shock in a broader sequence, warning that such occurrences can result in prolonged aftershock activity regionally.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
-
In recent years, the population of saguaro cactuses have been in decline, driven by rising temperatures and prolonged drought.—
John Leos,
AZCentral.com,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The idea is that once the consolidated sleep pattern has been established, it can be lengthened over time.—
Rowan Jacobsen,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
-
His telomeres, protective caps on chromosomes, lengthened in space, only to shorten rapidly upon return.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
So much of Brazil strains the imagination—the interminable skyline of São Paulo, the beaches of Rio curving between monoliths of granite, the aquamarine pools trapped between the undulating dunes of Lençóis Maranhenses.—
William O'Connor,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
-
To get there, the Norwegian explorers navigated the interminable snowfields of interior Antarctica, trudging through the harshest climates on earth for 56 days.—
Brad Japhe,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In a statement, the NFL confirmed that support has been extended to the Cowboys during this difficult time.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Row between stores The backlash towards Shein has extended beyond demonstrations on the street and government probes.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
7 Nov. 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
-
At the port, narrow wooden docks stretched over the river, lined with vendors selling hammocks, bottled water, sacks of rice, and mosquito repellent.—
Aaron Randolph,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The attosecond pulses stretched only slightly from 90 to 96 attoseconds.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Nov. 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
Verb
-
The number of homebuyers taking out VA loans also increased in August, rising 3 percent year-over-year nationwide—bucking the trend observed for conventional loans, which declined 9 percent year-over-year in the same month.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The area increased to 80% by 2018, according to state media, after numerous buildings and city walls were restored, and 135 temporary structures inside the compound were torn down.—
Fred He,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Protracted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protracted. Accessed 19 Nov. 2025.
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