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

These movements take joints through active ranges of motion, lengthening and engaging muscles to support and control movement.

— Dana Santas, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2026
Valjean’s famous bread-theft-to-feed-his-starving-family here becomes a footchase/fight setpiece before he is caught and consigned to an ever-lengthening prison sentence.

— Jessica Kiang, Variety, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of lengthening

Verb

The fight, Haro said, is about more than extending a lease or delaying an eviction.

— Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 26 Sep. 2026
On her feet were strappy, buckle-heavy platform sandals with oversize straps extending off the sides and wrapping around her ankles, with the highest strap wrapping around the tapered jeans.

— Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of extending

Verb

As American leaders increasingly seek short, decisive military operations, the United States may increasingly confront adversaries that see advantages in prolonging conflicts.

— NADIA SCHADLOW, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2026
More than 5,000 migrants have remained in Ceuta, prolonging a humanitarian crisis that has become a political liability for Sánchez in Spain and beyond.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of prolonging

Verb

Beth Israel was a flagship of American Judaism, its origins stretching back to 1844, when Texas was still an independent republic.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
Standard assays for measuring plastic breakdown are exceptionally slow because solid PET plastic resists dissolution, stretching testing timelines across several days.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of stretching

Verb

This line is increasing sustainable sourcing, minimizing landfill waste, and conserving fresh water, among many initiatives.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
The increasing frequency and unpredictability of Reuben’s hot flashes, including sleep disruptions from nighttime hot flashes, took a toll.

— Partner Content, Variety, 23 Sep. 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 28 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of protracting

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

fungible

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

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

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes