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

Longini explained that climate change is increasing mosquito populations and lengthening their active seasons, contributing to dengue’s spread globally.

— Alex DeLuca, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
In both countries, falling fertility rates and lengthening lifespans keep worsening the fiscal picture.

— NIALL FERGUSON, Foreign Affairs, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of lengthening

Verb

Assemblyman Nick Schultz floated the idea of extending the expiration date of the state program, which is currently set to sunset in 2030, as a way of offering greater certainty to productions.

— Gene Maddaus, Variety, 30 Oct. 2026
That makes proposals such as extending the sales tax to more services or taxing retirement income, both of which Pritzker has repeatedly rejected, politically unpalatable.

— Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of extending

Verb

The Chicago Department of Transportation says its work on the Lake Street Bridge project will need additional time to complete, prolonging Green and Pink Line service disruptions.

— Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026
Bolsonaro has already challenged the results, prolonging the political flux and adding fresh pressure to the currency.

— Marta Biino, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of prolonging

Verb

Like several other important fossils previously sold at auction, Jodi comes from Hell Creek Formation, a geological boneyard stretching across Montana, Wyoming and the Dakotas.

— Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2026
He was noticed stretching on the sideline and trying to keep his back loose with trainers, but to no avail.

— Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of stretching

Verb

But the company’s stock has gone nowhere over the past two years, as Instacart struggled to find new paths to growth while facing increasing competition from Amazon and Walmart’s grocery-delivery offerings.

— Rob Wile, NBC news, 29 Oct. 2026
For a while, the music hangs there, pieces echoing each other with increasing intensity.

— Vanessa Ague, Pitchfork, 29 Oct. 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 2 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of protracting

verb

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