as in enlarged
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1
as in exaggerated
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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2
3
as in lengthened
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
as in tried
to subject (a personal quality or faculty) to often excessive stress
your whining is stretching my patience to the limit
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Recent Examples of stretched
Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 29 May 2026
Once activated, the Fe-SMA bars aim to shrink back to their pre-stretched shape.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 19 Feb. 2026
It’s formulated with calcium to promote new cell growth, adenosine to fill in wrinkles, collagen to maintain your skin’s density and thickness, elastin to restore stretched skin, and Vitamin D for rejuvenation.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 30 Jan. 2026
America’s health care system is straining under the twin pressures of an aging population and a stretched pool of health care providers.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2025
Despite this pullback, the stock still trades at a stretched nine times trailing revenue—well above its historical average of three times.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2026
The exhibition traces the arc of a career that stretched across nearly seven decades and helped make participation, movement, and perception central concerns of contemporary art.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 30 May 2026
However, the measure has met with fierce opposition from right-wing parties, which have described it as irresponsible and a way to further collapse a country with certain public services that are already stretched to the limit.
—Marta Campabadal Graus, NBC news, 30 May 2026
Actor and singer Leon Thomas presented Idol with the award, recognizing a career that has stretched from the early days of the punk movement to arena-rock superstardom.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026
But the renovations have stretched across years and remain incomplete.
—Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026
Friday afternoon — as lines of weary travelers stretched from Amtrak’s customer service desk — dozens of Amtrak workers, clad in hard-hats and high-viz vests, could be seen from the western end of Platform 6.
—Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 29 May 2026
His 18 games, unlike his counterparts, have been stretched across the last three seasons.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2026
The wind whipped her face and her little legs stretched higher and higher, pulling her into orbit.
—Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
Adjective
Wiley often wears her hair in a stretched state, combing through her gray coils with a blow dryer before doing a braid-out.
—Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 29 May 2026
Once activated, the Fe-SMA bars aim to shrink back to their pre-stretched shape.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 19 Feb. 2026
It’s formulated with calcium to promote new cell growth, adenosine to fill in wrinkles, collagen to maintain your skin’s density and thickness, elastin to restore stretched skin, and Vitamin D for rejuvenation.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 30 Jan. 2026
America’s health care system is straining under the twin pressures of an aging population and a stretched pool of health care providers.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2025
Despite this pullback, the stock still trades at a stretched nine times trailing revenue—well above its historical average of three times.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
After taking a 50-37 lead into halftime, the Fire stretched their advantage to 25 points in the third quarter.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2026
The exhibition traces the arc of a career that stretched across nearly seven decades and helped make participation, movement, and perception central concerns of contemporary art.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 30 May 2026
However, the measure has met with fierce opposition from right-wing parties, which have described it as irresponsible and a way to further collapse a country with certain public services that are already stretched to the limit.
—Marta Campabadal Graus, NBC news, 30 May 2026
Actor and singer Leon Thomas presented Idol with the award, recognizing a career that has stretched from the early days of the punk movement to arena-rock superstardom.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026
But the renovations have stretched across years and remain incomplete.
—Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026
Friday afternoon — as lines of weary travelers stretched from Amtrak’s customer service desk — dozens of Amtrak workers, clad in hard-hats and high-viz vests, could be seen from the western end of Platform 6.
—Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 29 May 2026
His 18 games, unlike his counterparts, have been stretched across the last three seasons.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2026
The wind whipped her face and her little legs stretched higher and higher, pulling her into orbit.
—Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretched
Adjective
-
Digestive problems, such as an enlarged esophagus or colon.—
Eva Flowe
May 29,
Charlotte Observer,
29 May 2026
-
Your gastroenterologist finds a large hiatal hernia, an enlarged opening of the diaphragm trapping part of your stomach.—
Danielle Friedman,
The Conversation,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
City officials say telecom companies have exaggerated the impact of that city law.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Goldman Sachs’ David Mericle suggests this reading has perhaps been exaggerated.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Colorado pulled to 8-3 in the fifth on Tyler Freeman’s two-run homer, but the Angels answered again in the bottom half on Jo Adell’s RBI single for a 9-3 lead.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
-
The hood’s intake is mounted at the back, so smoke and fumes rising from the back burners get pulled straight up into it.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
For fans, queues to fill up water bottles and stand underneath shower sprinklers lengthened throughout the day.—
Ava Wallace,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
-
Ukraine has lengthened its striking arm and is now wreaking havoc across European Russia, much of which is now vulnerable to drone attacks.—
Katya Soldak,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
To make matters messier, Danson and Goldberg’s romance was cooling off and the two actually tried to get out of the Friars roast, but the club said the tickets had been sold and the show must go on.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
-
Odd moment plagues fourth quarter As the Knicks held on to their fairly sizable lead, a fan ran onto the court, tried to take a selfie with Wembanyama but was quickly apprehended by security.—
Jacob Lev,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
The rules were tightened in 2012, when the club constitution was changed to introduce the 20-year membership requirement and the budget guarantee backed by Spanish banks.—
Sam Leveridge,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
The airline tightened its policy for plus-size customers in January, making the purchase of a second seat a requirement rather than a recommendation for guests who cannot sit safely in a single seat.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
As well as the bold floral or striped padded headboards there are fabric wallpapers and colorful kimonos framed behind glass panes.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Beyond that, the wide crossover straps won’t dig into your feet, and the heels have a padded Ortholite insole that adds extra comfort.—
Natalie LaBarbera,
InStyle,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
London’s Christian Olivares, a USC pledge, extended the lead in the third inning, hitting a two-run home run to left field.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 June 2026
-
Some passholders have extended vender floor hours.—
John Tufts,
IndyStar,
5 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stretched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stretched. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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