1
as in expansion
a wide space or area
a narrow stretch of beach below the cliffs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in space
an indefinite but usually short period of time
there was a cardinal at our bird feeder for a short stretch last spring
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
4
as in distance
the space or amount of space between two points, lines, surfaces, or objects
the longest stretch of the drive without any place to get gas
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to exaggerate
to add to the interest of by including made-up details
it was stretching the truth to say she'd been in the movies: she was once an extra whose scene was cut in the final version
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in to lengthen
to make longer
the time it would take to fix the car got stretched from three hours to two days when the part we needed had to be ordered
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to try
to subject (a personal quality or faculty) to often excessive stress
your whining is stretching my patience to the limit
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in flexible
able to revert to original size and shape after being stretched, squeezed, or twisted
stretch fabrics that don't wrinkle or sag
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of stretch
Louryn Strampe, Wired News, 30 May 2025
The days of driving long stretches and stopping at no-frills rest stops are replaced with pre-planned breaks and roadside activities.
—Kimberly Zapata, Parents, 30 May 2025
Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 May 2025
Seven of the city’s 10 hottest summers on record occurred during the last 10 years, according to the federal data, which stretches back to 1948.
—Phillip Reese, Sacbee.com, 30 May 2025
Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 28 Apr. 2025
The reality is, high performers thrive on stretch goals.
—Mark Murphy, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stretch
Noun
The two-way stretch fabric is water-repellent and slightly ribbed, with a lightweight feel that’s perfect for summer (or sweating in a dance studio, presumably).
—Louryn Strampe, Wired News, 30 May 2025
The days of driving long stretches and stopping at no-frills rest stops are replaced with pre-planned breaks and roadside activities.
—Kimberly Zapata, Parents, 30 May 2025
Verb
Replenish mulches to stretch the time between waterings. 39.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 May 2025
Seven of the city’s 10 hottest summers on record occurred during the last 10 years, according to the federal data, which stretches back to 1948.
—Phillip Reese, Sacbee.com, 30 May 2025
Adjective
The following year Turkish mill Bossa launched Endless Blue, a line of stretch denim fabrics made with the regenerated cellulose fiber.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 28 Apr. 2025
The reality is, high performers thrive on stretch goals.
—Mark Murphy, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stretch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretch
Noun
-
The 54-year-old already was overseeing a $60 billion expansion of the parks business before Abu Dhabi — Disney’s first new park since 2016 — was announced in May.—
Peter Kiefer,
HollywoodReporter,
4 June 2025
-
The two-story, 135,000-square-foot expansion, designed by Generator Studio, will double the size of the facility and is expected to bring up to 1.5 million people through its doors annually, according to team estimates.—
Phil Thompson,
Chicago Tribune,
4 June 2025
Noun
-
Winant’s work, including those of the body and the photograph as well as the space between mother and child.—
Jessica Simmons-Reid,
Artforum,
1 June 2025
-
But the space itself isn’t the only value of the residency.—
Jonathan Shorman,
Kansas City Star,
1 June 2025
Noun
-
The spectrum ranges from national to international productions.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
5 June 2025
-
The most common color for auroras is green, as the human eye is most sensitive to green in the visible color spectrum.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
5 June 2025
Noun
-
Flowers kept his distance the following summer and got a job at Charlestown Senior Living in Catonsville.—
Edward Lee,
Baltimore Sun,
29 May 2025
-
Keep clear of puddles - Driving through puddles or low rainwater areas can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of control Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
29 May 2025
Verb
-
Another hurdle is getting buy-in from red states, where many politicians have espoused the view that hate crimes and domestic terrorism concerns are exaggerated by liberals to police conservative thought.—
Hannah Allam,
ProPublica,
31 May 2025
-
Trump has long been known for his tendency to exaggerate crowd sizes at his rallies and public events, a pattern that dates back to his very first days in office.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 May 2025
Verb
-
Brands began to pull together resources to support refugees.—
Stephan Rabimov,
Forbes,
13 Feb. 2023
-
The 13-minute performance will likely call for a healthy dose of vibrant, colored lighting to pull it all together.—
Kelly Allen,
House Beautiful,
10 Feb. 2023
Verb
-
The wait seemed endless, especially given all the compensatory picks that lengthened the seventh round.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
20 May 2025
-
And this oversized cut and loose silhouette suits Princess Kate particularly well; the high-waist fit visually lengthens her legs, while the angular cut of the blazer is confident and structured.—
Lina-Marie Baatz,
Glamour,
14 May 2025
Verb
-
Falling in love is a beautiful process, but try not to ignore the hurdles that come along the way.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
-
Measure a neighbor’s trampoline or try one out in a sporting goods store to get a better idea of the best size for you.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
4 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stretch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stretch. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.
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