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
Marsch will need a possible starter to be locked in for longer stretches. Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 11 June 2025 Representation may also be inspiring greater acceptance in this rural stretch of Colorado. Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 11 June 2025
Verb
The lessons were plentiful on Tuesday – and the reverberations need to stretch well beyond the next few weeks in the Gold Cup. Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 11 June 2025 However, showing up unexpected is harder on the host, who will now have to stretch his four-bean stew to five guests. Judith Martin, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 June 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
  • As luck would have it, the expansion Tampa Bay Devil Rays, as they were then known, were to begin play in 1998 and commence minor league and player development operations in 1997, a year after Militello threw his final pitch.
    Tom Layberger, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025
  • The news marks the first international expansion for Jackson’s FAST network.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 16 June 2025
Noun
  • Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 14 June 2025
  • Riz Ahmed is carving out a niche in the action-thriller space.
    Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 13 June 2025
Noun
  • On the other end of the spectrum, the spring’s new shows needing some help were Boop!
    Greg Evans, Deadline, 17 June 2025
  • On the other end of the spectrum, Liquid Web's high-end option (starting at $154 per month) ups the ante by including 32GB of RAM and 960GB of SSD storage.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 17 June 2025
Noun
  • Keep a distance from tall, solitary trees or other elevated structures.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 9 June 2025
  • The difference is as vast as the straight-line distance of 6,882 miles between Pittsburgh and the Eagles’ home in Daejeon, South Korea.
    Chuck Murr, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
Verb
  • The Figure below breaks down the source of gross imports; the decline in oil from OPEC is pronounced, while the rise of Canadian oil imports, due to higher oil sands production, exaggerates the security of our supply, albeit only slightly.
    Michael Lynch, Forbes.com, 14 June 2025
  • Faced with a middling public response to the ICE raids and subsequent protests, Trump continued to use extreme language to exaggerate the magnitude of the public safety threat and to take credit for the reduction in hostilities as the week progressed.
    James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 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
  • Emily made her tired legs move more quickly, eager for the conversation to be over, but Gen lengthened her stride.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 June 2025
  • This presents an opportunity for individuals and professionals alike, as edge is available simply by lengthening one’s time horizon.
    Jeffrey Schulze, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
Verb
  • The street where the missile landed was filled with bulldozers trying to clear the debris.
    Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 16 June 2025
  • The best idea for Harrison might be to keep the velocity up, and try to develop a bunch of okay secondary pitches.
    The Athletic MLB Staff, New York Times, 16 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Stretch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stretch. Accessed 22 Jun. 2025.

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