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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of stretch
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
23 June 2026
The construction is part of the final stretches of a project to widen I-84 between Centennial and Franklin Road and add improvements to some of the interchanges.
—
Rose Evans
june 23,
Idaho Statesman,
23 June 2026
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
24 June 2026
Footwear News found that Nike’s problem stretched back over five years, and that under the leadership of former CEO John Donahoe, the brand’s DTC-first approach meant the sportswear firm could own consumer data and improve margins.
—
Vicki M. Young,
Footwear News,
24 June 2026
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
6 June 2026
The new assembly line will start with production of the 737 Max 10, a stretch version of the single aisle plane that is expected to be certified by the FAA before the end of the year, clearing the way for the first 737 Max 10 deliveries.
—
Phil Lebeau,meghan Reeder,
CNBC,
5 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for stretch
Noun
The area is by a busy commercial stretch near the Steamship Authority ferry terminal, where tourists spill into the island’s cobblestoned downtown.
—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
23 June 2026
The construction is part of the final stretches of a project to widen I-84 between Centennial and Franklin Road and add improvements to some of the interchanges.
—
Rose Evans
june 23,
Idaho Statesman,
23 June 2026
Verb
After his brace yesterday, the Portuguese superstar became the first player to score a goal in six editions of the World Cup, a record stretching back to his debut in 2006.
—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
24 June 2026
Footwear News found that Nike’s problem stretched back over five years, and that under the leadership of former CEO John Donahoe, the brand’s DTC-first approach meant the sportswear firm could own consumer data and improve margins.
—
Vicki M. Young,
Footwear News,
24 June 2026
Adjective
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,
6 June 2026
The new assembly line will start with production of the 737 Max 10, a stretch version of the single aisle plane that is expected to be certified by the FAA before the end of the year, clearing the way for the first 737 Max 10 deliveries.
—
Phil Lebeau,meghan Reeder,
CNBC,
5 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for stretch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretch
Noun
-
The state expansion also means protection for the rare riparian forest.
-
The University of Pittsburgh’s record-setting growth is reshaping both its campus and Oakland, as the university leans into a long-term expansion plan that adds student beds, new facilities and economic heft to one of Pennsylvania’s busiest urban districts.
Noun
-
Instead of a hallway of bedrooms under a single roof, the sleeping spaces are dispersed across the property, each with direct access to the gardens — a design more commonly found in tropical destinations than in a tony coastal enclave about 35 miles north of San Francisco.
-
The new vessel has a laboratory space three times the size of the research vessel John Dempsey, officials said.
Noun
-
Both parents were employed and had health insurance, but neither Casper — who Leyton noted was nonverbal and likely on the autism spectrum — nor his younger sister received medical care, according to the report.
-
On the other end of the spectrum was a nightmarish third inning in which the hosts scored 10 runs.
Noun
-
During a 2002 visitor survey, though, the majority of day-use visitors reported hiking 10 miles or less, and the most common distance hiked was 5 miles, Patterson reports.
-
Keep a distance from high profile vehicles such as trucks, buses and vehicles towing trailers.
Verb
-
The four-time Olympian was not exaggerating.
-
Many of the studies exaggerate the amount in human organs, the European officials concluded.
Verb
-
But Roberts finds moments to pull players aside for one-on-one conversations.
-
Rescuers have fanned out across La Guaira, where the worst destruction occurred, and parts of Caracas, where families and volunteers have spent days pulling survivors and victims from the rubble.
Verb
-
The incentive to upgrade has collapsed, lengthening the replacement cycle and affecting the Mac platform’s high-margin retail sales.
-
Earlier this spring, the media mogul stepped out in New York City wearing the Crocs Soho Y-Strap Sandals, a platform style that delivers the leg-lengthening effect of heels without the usual discomfort.
Verb
-
Anthropic and the administration have been meeting to try and resolve the issue.
-
Suited for layering, try this classic tee for weekends away or long vacations abroad.
Cite this Entry
“Stretch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stretch. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
