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
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
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
Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2025
The thoracic rotation stretch can feel particularly soothing.
—Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 25 Apr. 2025
Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 23 Apr. 2025
Diaz will star opposite Miller, whose résumé stretches across stage and screen, and includes the FX show Impeachment: American Crime Story, Law & Order, as well as Prime Video’s Hand of God.
—Mikelle Street, Them., 23 Apr. 2025
Expert Panel®, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests aiming for 150 minutes a week, but even taking a 10-minute break from work to go on a walk, stretch, or do a quick HIIT workout can make a huge difference.
—Julia Ries, SELF, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stretch
Noun
The Cubs had an extended stretch in summer 2023 when Adbert Alzolay, Merryweather, Mark Leiter Jr. and Fulmer solidified the final three or four innings, but injuries and ineffectiveness set in by September, and the Cubs blew a wild-card spot, leading to Ross’ ouster.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2025
The thoracic rotation stretch can feel particularly soothing.
—Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 25 Apr. 2025
Verb
Snag a portable workspace without stretching your wallet: the Arzopa A1 portable monitor is just $70 on Amazon (a 33% discount sitting comfortably under the hundred-buck line).
—Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 23 Apr. 2025
Diaz will star opposite Miller, whose résumé stretches across stage and screen, and includes the FX show Impeachment: American Crime Story, Law & Order, as well as Prime Video’s Hand of God.
—Mikelle Street, Them., 23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
Take Breaks Throughout The Day Taking a pause every 50 minutes to relax, stretch, meditate or engage in something enjoyable has been a game-changer for me.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests aiming for 150 minutes a week, but even taking a 10-minute break from work to go on a walk, stretch, or do a quick HIIT workout can make a huge difference.
—Julia Ries, SELF, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stretch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretch
Noun
-
The funds will be used to bankroll the expansion of the flagship FPSO business as well as a growing green energy portfolio under Yinson Renewables, a subsidiary that has solar and wind power projects in multiple countries.—
Jonathan Burgos,
Forbes.com,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Such levels of import duties are expected to dent China’s exports and knock several percentage points off the economy’s expansion this year.—
Anniek Bao,Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
16 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The combination of humor, humility, and skill made Arya stand out in a space dominated by polished perfection.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2025
-
Releasing Clowney would save the Panthers about $7.75 million in cap space, according to Over The Cap.—
Mike Kaye,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
On the other end of the spectrum, those who majored in education earn less than a 6% median ROI.—
Kamaron McNair,
CNBC,
18 Apr. 2025
-
On one end of the spectrum, institutional investors are dismayed at the company’s pullback from its ambitious climate targets.—
Justin Worland,
Time,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Maintain a safe distance from water, wet items, and metal objects.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Apr. 2025
-
One of the most significant breakthroughs in diagnostics has been the shift toward bringing testing closer to people, reducing barriers like distance, time, and lack of privacy.—
Jennifer Lotito,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Want a new career that’s higher-paying, more flexible or fulfilling?—
Kamaron McNair,
CNBC,
18 Apr. 2025
-
The device uses microneedles and flexible wiring to capture neural signals just beneath the skin, enhancing signal quality while minimizing invasiveness.—
Charlie Fink,
Forbes.com,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
That’s much lower than in a lab-grade vacuum, yet across vast expanses of space, even very low particle densities can add up, so Barnard 68’s tenuous material is still enough to absorb essentially all the light that would otherwise just pass through.—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Spanning northwest New Jersey, the district is a mix of rural expanses with rolling hills and river towns, with dense urban pockets en route to New York.—
Savannah Kuchar,
USA Today,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The Heat hung around for a while but gave up too many second-chance points, committed too many mindless miscues (14 turnovers) and couldn’t stop Cleveland’s offense from behind the three-point line or on forays to the basket.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
21 Apr. 2025
-
The young hatch and remain inside for a while before dispersing into the water to build tiny bells of their own.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
20 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Now Trump is once again withdrawing the U.S. After Francis' 2015 encyclical, researchers examined a broad range of views, well beyond the President.—
Jeff Brady,
NPR,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Periods of mourning range from three days (Chile, Dominican Republic, Lebanon and Spain) up to nine days, which is the traditional period of mourning at the Vatican, known as Novemdiales, during which daily masses and ceremonies are being held in memory of the pope.—
Morgan Winsor,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stretch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stretch. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share