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
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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
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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
as in to expand
to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area
you can't stretch out your legs to the point where you're blocking the aisle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in stretch
able to revert to original size and shape after being stretched, squeezed, or twisted
a stretchy hair band
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
Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
The effort began in 1991, when the city council solicited public input on how to redevelop a stretch of land along the waterfront.
—Beth Lew-Williams, New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2025
Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
That two-block development that stretches north to MacArthur Boulevard will feature up to 3,750 residential units, a 250-room hotel, a 200-unit tower for senior living and up to 350,000 square feet of restaurants and shops, as well as a grocery store and 13 acres of park space.
—Mona Darwish, Oc Register, 13 Sep. 2025
Bethy Squires, Vulture, 17 July 2025
According to our expert, washing denim too often breaks down the fibers more quickly and that is especially true if the jeans have any stretch fibers in them, which many of them do.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 7 July 2025
Nora Colomer
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, 10 Sep. 2025
This stretchy dress is a versatile option that blends business and fashion.
—Jacqueline Tempera, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stretch
Noun
Securing home-field advantage for that first playoff round remains a goal, but otherwise this stretch run lacks much suspense.
—Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
The effort began in 1991, when the city council solicited public input on how to redevelop a stretch of land along the waterfront.
—Beth Lew-Williams, New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
Smith stretched as far as his body would allow, inadvertently hitting the splits in the process.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
That two-block development that stretches north to MacArthur Boulevard will feature up to 3,750 residential units, a 250-room hotel, a 200-unit tower for senior living and up to 350,000 square feet of restaurants and shops, as well as a grocery store and 13 acres of park space.
—Mona Darwish, Oc Register, 13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Dunaway should get stretch powers, because Hollywood is cruel about women aging and Mr. Fantastic’s power can be used like Botox (see also: Elasti-Woman on Doom Patrol).
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 17 July 2025
According to our expert, washing denim too often breaks down the fibers more quickly and that is especially true if the jeans have any stretch fibers in them, which many of them do.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 7 July 2025
Adjective
Try these waterproof, stretchy watch bands.
—Nora Colomer
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, 10 Sep. 2025
This stretchy dress is a versatile option that blends business and fashion.
—Jacqueline Tempera, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stretch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretch
Noun
-
Biglari’s core demands were to stop opening new stores entirely, eliminate the development team to save money, and focus exclusively on improving existing store operations rather than expansion.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
18 Sep. 2025
-
The expansion team has lost each of its last five games against the Lynx, and most recently suffered one of their worst losses of the season in Game 1 on Sunday in a 29-point defeat.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
More than 100 Jilin remote sensing satellites have been launched, designed to acquire information from space via remote instruments.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
-
While central bank policy will have an important impact on the crypto markets, innovation in the space will be the driving force behind changes in asset prices, claimed Colkitt.—
Charles Lloyd Bovaird II,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Kirk’s death brought a tremendous response across the political spectrum.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Musk’s stint in the White House, subsequent split from the president, and continued embrace of right-wing causes has alienated consumers across the political spectrum, polls have repeatedly found.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Such a short distance is considered well within reach of a basic marksman.—
Will Carless,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Jordan Morgan started at left guard and went the distance, while Anthony Belton and Darian Kennard alternated at right tackle.—
Rob Reischel,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Nowadays, these routes and addresses can sometimes call to my mind the Camino Real—the old Spanish road lost and buried but commuted upon daily—or that mythic expanse of the Mediterranean where Odysseus lost his way and people live and work to this day.—
Manuel Muñoz,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Solarization is the process of killing a lawn or an expanse of weeds by soaking it with a hose or a sprinkler system and then covering it with clear plastic, held down by rocks or bricks.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Depending on the product's popularity, users may have to scroll for a while before finding a box that is available for purchase.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Many Bachelor Nation fans can attest that the franchise has been in need of an overhaul for a while now.—
Kelsie Gibson,
PEOPLE,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
For decades, OPOs have been bulky systems with narrow ranges.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Even in areas accustomed to heavier snowfalls, accumulations in this range can result in delays, collisions and road closures if not treated promptly.—
Theo Burman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The expansion and contraction of credit directly controls the width of the triangle.—
Vipin Bharathan,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
There has been an absence of pace and width.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stretch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stretch. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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