PROTRACTING Synonyms: 25 Similar and Opposite Words

protracting

verb

present participle of protract

as in lengthening

to make longer the highway project was protracted by years of litigation

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for protracting

Verb

And among those areas that could face a lengthening drought is the Pacific Northwest because of the way the jet stream moves during El Nino.

— Dana Taylor, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026
The Philadelphia Phillies entered the trade deadline widely expected to pursue a significant upgrade, with much of the speculation centered on adding a right-handed outfielder capable of lengthening the lineup beyond the infield staples.

— Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of lengthening

Verb

Out on a wooden platform extending over San Diego’s Mission Bay, young women sway from side to side, riding an imaginary wave to the beats.

— Kailyn Brown, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
In my view, extending the commitment to five years would provide greater stability for exhibitors and strengthen the position that the combined company intends to make a sustained investment in theatrical films.

— Cory Jacobson, HollywoodReporter, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of extending

Verb

Additionally, Oaks Park evacuated the park without providing traffic control, which delayed first responders from being able to enter the park quickly in an emergency, prolonging suffering.

— Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026
In actuality, that’s the best thing to do since prolonging the repair can lead to a full-on replacement that wasn’t warranted in the first place.

— Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of prolonging

Verb

There was no mistaking the silver-dollar-thick main beams, each stretching close to 30 inches from base to tip.

— Jeff Murray, Outdoor Life, 20 Aug. 2026
Dallas uses motions and shifts in both the run and the pass game; their rushing attack features powerful gap concepts but also layered, stretching zone runs.

— Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of stretching

Verb

While increasing volumes of the oil are finding routes out of the Middle East, the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed, keeping energy prices elevated and pushing up global inflation.

— Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
Alternatively, perhaps Arsenal’s actions are driven by an increasing pressure to sell.

— James McNicholas, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of increasing

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protracted

protracting

protraction

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“Protracting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protracting. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of protracting

verb

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