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 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
  • LinkedIn’s expansion allows companies to buy First Impression Ads: vertical video ads for single-day campaigns that can target users in specific businesses, and are guaranteed to be the first ad that those members see during the day.
    Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 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
  • Staff and administration buildings were hit, and barracks with beds, bathrooms and dining spaces were torn apart.
    Gael Langdon, Arkansas Online, 1 June 2025
  • But the space itself isn’t the only value of the residency.
    Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 1 June 2025
Noun
  • At the opposite spectrum of the sombre tone and palette of Ritual of the Ancestors and Rites of Passage are a pair of sensual canvases titled Adoration of the Earth which depict a naked woman languishing in a field of dancing sunflowers.
    Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
  • Consumers should use a sunscreen labelled SPF 30 or higher with broad spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays.
    Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 22 May 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
  • Their work emphasizes that with lengthening lifespans, Americans will face multiple career transitions and need continual skill renewal.
    Alison Griffin, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
  • Listen to this article CARLSBAD — Dianna Lee settled over a 4-foot put on the 18th green in the lengthening shadows Wednesday evening at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa’s North Course.
    Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 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
  • In the Tuesday, June 3 episode, Gilbert recalled getting the role of Laura Ingalls and how her parents tried to keep her life normal despite her star rising.
    Angela Andaloro, People.com, 4 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

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

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