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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for protracting

Verb

Just minutes into public testimony, the livestream crashed, lengthening the meeting by about an hour until it was restored.

— Rachel Treisman, NPR, 6 Nov. 2026
So far, fall 2026 has been filled with sleek, low-profile loafers, leg-lengthening boots, and fresh takes on classic ballet flats, to name a few.

— Melony Forcier, InStyle, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of lengthening

Verb

Currently, to meet the massive capital requirements of AI infrastructure, American tech giants are expanding financing channels into overseas markets like Europe while extending bond maturities.

— , CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026
Dark black kohl rimmed her eyes before extending into a wing, in a style reminiscent of Egyptian royalty.

— Arushi Jacob, Footwear News, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of extending

Verb

The contract deadline for union security workers at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and their maritime employers has been pushed back to Friday, again prolonging the threat of a potential strike at the San Pedro Bay docks.

— Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2026
Trump had previously accused Iran of prolonging the war in an effort to damage Republican midterm prospects.

— Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of prolonging

Verb

Watkins scored 11 points during a decisive third quarter in which USC outscored UNLV 31-10, stretching a 52-39 halftime lead to 83-49.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
The National Weather Service temperature outlook for the next three months shows the likelihood of above-average temperatures stretching from the Pacific Northwest, through the Upper Midwest and right through the Northeast.

— Terry Eliasen, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of stretching

Verb

Moon’s priorities for another term included expanding students’ access to mental health services, improving teacher recruitment and retention, and increasing career technical education opportunities.

— Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026
Figma is increasing its focus on cybersecurity, said Dylan Field, Figma's co-founder and CEO.

— Jordan Novet, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of increasing

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

protracted

protracting

protraction

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Protracting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protracting. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of protracting

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

wabi-sabi

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes