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
Jasna Hodžić, Big Think, 10 Mar. 2026
Mild temperatures, blooming azaleas, and festival season in full swing make the city feel especially vibrant during this stretch of the calendar.
—Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
Ricci’s Hoagies’ first shop outside Philadelphia opened Wednesday in Charlotte, with a crowd so big that the lunchtime line stretched around the block.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 11 Mar. 2026
Annie Blackman, InStyle, 3 Mar. 2026
Advances in stretch denim have reshaped the workwear fabric’s place in fashion.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stretch
Noun
But in the long stretches of solitude, Lamott and Allen become that company.
—Jasna Hodžić, Big Think, 10 Mar. 2026
Mild temperatures, blooming azaleas, and festival season in full swing make the city feel especially vibrant during this stretch of the calendar.
—Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
Buzelis was discouraged by his struggles to find his shot amid a losing streak that had stretched to nine games.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
Ricci’s Hoagies’ first shop outside Philadelphia opened Wednesday in Charlotte, with a crowd so big that the lunchtime line stretched around the block.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
The Ribcage Wide-Leg jeans have a high-rise waist that’s right on trend, along with a leg-lengthening inseam and non-stretch denim that breaks in beautifully.
—Annie Blackman, InStyle, 3 Mar. 2026
Advances in stretch denim have reshaped the workwear fabric’s place in fashion.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stretch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretch
Noun
-
The Vegas Golden Knights set a record for road wins by an expansion team with a 2-1 shootout victory at Buffalo.—
Senior Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
This new expansion brings it to 10 locations, starting with Phoenix, though Zoox has yet to share an exact date for when vehicles will hit the road.—
James Peckham,
PC Magazine,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The question box includes a space for your name, but this is optional.—
Carolyn Hax,
Washington Post,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The space agency quickly determined that the 2022 strike trimmed the smaller asteroid’s orbit around its bigger companion.—
Marcia Dunn,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Pasta|Bar, the high-wire tasting counter from chefs Phillip Frankland Lee and Margarita Kallas-Lee, is closing at the end of the month.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
7 Mar. 2026
-
From emerald and blue-toned hues to olives and mosses, the dark green color spectrum is expansive for chic manicure spring ideas.—
Kara Jillian Brown,
InStyle,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The perfect distance physically … and emotionally.—
Jennifer Wolfgram,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The initial goal was a single-family home that could fit a family of four (plus a dog), and was within walking distance of the school.—
Carisa Crawford Chappell,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
With not a lot of airtime to transition her protagonist from reasonable to out of touch with reality, Jonas relegated much of her character’s contemplative qualities to the asides and exaggerated her more base characteristics by adding in some reckless behavior.—
Elaina Patton,
IndieWire,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Some health experts have said that, while there has been evidence of fraud, the concerns have been exaggerated.—
Greg Iacurci,
CNBC,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This delicate top looks like it was pulled straight from Reformation or Doen’s website.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
-
The blue Ford quickly comes to a full stop and Martinez is pulled from the vehicle and handcuffed by multiple officers.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Trump’s insistence on securing a decisive outcome may lengthen the conflict.—
Amena Bakr,
semafor.com,
9 Mar. 2026
-
As orders stack up, lead times are lengthening, driven not only by demand but by reduced access to essential materials.—
Travis Edmonds,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Saddam Hussein was captured, tried and hanged.—
Farah N. Jan,
The Conversation,
10 Mar. 2026
-
San Francisco put on the hardest of sells on to try to keep the talented linebacker — head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch flew to Texas to try to talk him out of leaving — but Greenlaw ultimately chose the Broncos.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stretch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stretch. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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