as in lengthening
to make longer
the highway project was protracted by years of litigation
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protracting
Verb
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Cuts to federal Medi-Cal financing will destabilize public hospitals, lengthening emergency room waits and reducing services.—
Susan Ellenberg,
Mercury News,
15 Apr. 2026 -
Before the Iran war began in late February, China’s lead in clean technologies was lengthening.—
Chan Ho-Him,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The joint Real Housewives of Atlanta alums are extending their buzzy Queen & King of Reality Tour with stops in Birmingham, Tampa, Dallas and Houston, to take place this May and June, The Hollywood Reporter can exclusively reveal.—
McKinley Franklin,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Apr. 2026
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So Delta decided to up the ante with its new design, extending the lie-flat bed by more than three inches for even more comfort—for a total of six-and-a-half feet of space when fully extended.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Much to the anguish and upset of their adult children, Kevin and Joy, Mavis and Dennis Eccleston decided to end their lives together when 81-year-old Dennis received a terminal cancer diagnosis and declined treatment to avoid prolonging his suffering.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
13 Apr. 2026
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When bail is granted, ICE appeals, prolonging detention for 90 more days.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Video footage shows motorists in the southeast African country of Mozambique waiting for hours at fuel stations as shortages grip the country, with lines of traffic stretching for blocks and drivers traveling between multiple stations in search of petrol or diesel.—
Yarden Segev,
NBC news,
16 Apr. 2026
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The move represented the shattering of a tradition of bipartisan support for public broadcasting stretching back more than a half-century.—
David Folkenflik,
NPR,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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South Korea is increasing generation at its nuclear plants and speeding up maintenance at five offline reactors, with restarts planned in May.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
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Bolivia is low on cash after making more than $500 million in debt payments last month, increasing the urgency of reaching a deal with the International Monetary Fund.—
Sergio Mendoza,
Bloomberg,
16 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Protracting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protracting. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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