stretch 1 of 3

stretch

2 of 3

verb

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to pull
to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure I stretched a back muscle, and the pain is killing me

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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

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4
5
as in to tighten
to draw tight if the canvas isn't properly stretched over the frame, there will be sagging over time

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

stretch

3 of 3

adjective

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of stretch
Noun
Cuomo, trailing significantly in the polls, has increasingly sought to play on voters’ fears as the race enters the final stretch. New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025 Clowns, aliens and the mysteries of Denver Airport Nevada’s Extraterrestrial Highway – yes, it’s officially called that – runs through one of the most remote and desolate stretches of the United States. Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
The highways stretch out flat, winding around small cattle farms and churches. Tyler Kingkade, NBC news, 31 Oct. 2025 Four defeats on the spin have not improved Silva’s mood, especially as injuries stretch his squad further. Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
These wrinkle-resistant, bi-stretch pants look tailored enough for the office yet feel relaxed enough for a long flight. Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2025 Each pair is hand-made in a super sheer, stretch mesh, and elastic side straps, and retails for $32. Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 15 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stretch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretch
Noun
  • The expansion of the role of pharmacies has meant that paying cash for generic drugs and services can also be cheaper at times.
    Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • However, the major result emerging from this research is the implication that the universe is not expanding at an accelerating rate, but has already transitioned into a state of decelerating expansion.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • The big story Sipping coffee in a café surrounded by Singapore’s skyline, Anshuman Magazine of real estate services firm CBRE told me that global capability centers (GCCs) accounted for 38% of office space demand in India in the third quarter.
    Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more!
    Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • The energy Mamdani inspired could be felt in the Paramount as people of all races and genders across the age spectrum danced in the room to upbeat rap and pop music.
    Alex J. Rouhandeh, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
  • In my experience, most patients gravitate toward interventions on the milder end of the spectrum, such as acupuncture and herbal remedies, but even these can be problematic if taken to the extreme.
    Jason Liebowitz, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • This way of peering at screen culture from an inexact distance, which also comes up in a scolding scene where Ethan scrolls aimlessly through something like TikTok, rankles in a play that is otherwise so precise about physical time and space.
    Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
  • If the sheer distance Albert travels is inconceivable to those of us with more earthbound callings, his on-air stats are equally mind-boggling.
    Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Tainy’s Prometheus — is portrayed by Feid, dressed in an oversized leather coat and lit in a manner that exaggerates his grills in an eerie way.
    Juan J. Arroyo, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
  • In the series, Gacy enjoyed talking about many of his accomplishments and exaggerating some of his stories.
    Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Gold pulls Alté maven Cruel Santino, Nigerian pop star Davido, and Zimbabwean-Australian rapper Tkay Maidza across two songs that embrace the spirit of South African house music.
    Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 2 Nov. 2025
  • Tame Impala pulled a few tricks—and fan-favorite treats—out of the vault on Halloween night in Brooklyn.
    Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 2 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • This winter, the Reds must lengthen the lineup and add leverage relief arms.
    Stephen J. Nesbitt, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Inhale to lengthen, exhale to twist deeper.
    Cory Martin, Verywell Health, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • But in terms of its deeds, the government has been very much trying to push Hungarian literature in an opposite direction.
    Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Other apparent daycare employees could be seen trying to get to her after she was placed in the ICE vehicle, with one holding a small child.
    Bonny Chu , Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Stretch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stretch. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.

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