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
The 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness raises the popular compact SUV’s off-road credentials, slotting in with the Ford Bronco Sport as the most capable in a popular class of vehicles most of whose range of terrain stretches just past the edge of the driveway and onto a suburban lawn. Mark Phelan, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025 Kidman’s career stretches over four decades, earning her an Academy Award and acclaim across film and television, most recently in Nine Perfect Strangers and Netflix’s The Perfect Couple. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
The record high afternoon temperatures and record high morning low temperatures are likely to stretch from the northern Plains into the upper Mississippi Valley and Great Lakes regions. Doyle Rice, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025 As detention stretches on, Kordia said it’s been difficult to follow developments in the war, let alone maintain contact with relatives caught in the conflict. Dave Smith, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
The collection includes the straight-leg Teddy in rigid and stretch fabrics; the ’90s inspired Gus with a relaxed and slouchy fit; the Jackson, a barrel-leg jean with a V-waist; the Kyle, a stretch flare; and the Leo, a straight-meets-barrel silhouette with a high rise. Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 12 Sep. 2025 Triumph loose fit jeans are made with stretch denim. May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stretch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretch
Noun
  • The transaction marks another milestone in KKR’s expansion in the region.
    Emma Graham, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Madrid Content City has already become one of the largest audiovisual hubs in Europe and is now entering phase IV of its expansion, expected to be completed by 2026.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Pool, pickleball, and plenty of space The property sits on almost three acres, with ample outdoor space for relaxing and entertaining.
    Lennie Omalza, Louisville Courier Journal, 2 Oct. 2025
  • But company leaders said that the move to Indianapolis from Greenfield was not just about the physical space.
    Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • De Bethune departed from its signature blue in September, releasing a new version of the DB25 Starry Varius at the opposite end of the color spectrum.
    Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 30 Sep. 2025
  • On the other side of the spectrum, three executives thought Hill would only be worth a late-round pick swap because of teams’ reservations over Hill’s off-field concerns.
    Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Advertisement The quake’s epicenter was shallow, only some 5 km below the surface, which means its energy needed to travel less distance before hitting infrastructure.
    Chad de Guzman, Time, 2 Oct. 2025
  • More observations are coming Hundreds of scientists are now measuring dark energy by studying millions of galaxies and the distances between them.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Giménez was exaggerating, but not by much.
    Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Our foul, flatulent father-figure may exaggerate a bit when belittling his enemies (and friends, for that matter), but cloaked under his aura of filth — like an adult Pig-Pen’s toxic dust cloud — rests a core truth.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Within minutes, the driver pulls back onto the road to haul the feed to an Algoma dairy farm, where livestock will eat it.
    Miranda Dunlap, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Coach Sean Payton, aggressively calling for a 2-point conversion after pulling to within 1 point and then unwrapping the perfect play call to capture the lead.
    Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The modifications included lengthening the body by 10 inches, lowering it, and giving it a new rear aero kit, as well as a new exhaust setup.
    Ben Oliver, Robb Report, 30 Sep. 2025
  • If the bike path closes, the alternative routes lengthen commutes for riders and force pedestrians to travel dangerous roads, Banks said.
    Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 28 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Some experts liken it to trying to spot a snowball in a snowstorm.
    Dr. Megha Gupta, ABC News, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Overseas activists have tried to deliver aid in the past to Gaza but have either been intercepted by Israeli forces or come under some form of attack.
    Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Stretch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stretch. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

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