as in enlarged
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in tried
to subject (a personal quality or faculty) to often excessive stress
your whining is stretching my patience to the limit
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 stretched
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
Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, working- and middle-class families are stretched thin.
—Tiffany Caban, New York Daily News, 8 Mar. 2026
The lead stretched to 22 points over the next four minutes.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
One slithered into a backyard, under a patio chair, and another was found stretched out across the warm cement sidewalk leading into Matt Davis Park.
—Michele Gile, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026
The National Weather Service said strong storms and flash flood risks on Saturday stretched from the Great Lakes to Texas.
—Dallas Morning News, 7 Mar. 2026
Severe storm risk continues into the weekend The National Weather Service said strong storms and flash flood risks on Saturday stretched from the Great Lakes to Texas.
—Isabel Yip, NBC news, 7 Mar. 2026
Negotiations stretched across Connecticut, Georgia, New York, and the District of Columbia.
—Regina E. Mason, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2026
Fedde is being stretched out this spring, similar to Sean Burke, Jonathan Cannon, Sean Newcomb, Chris Murphy and Mike Vasil, in an attempt to join the rotation.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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
The lead stretched to 12 early in the third quarter, but slowly and painfully for Parker, the hosts, with Archer attacking the glass, kept pecking away.
—Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, working- and middle-class families are stretched thin.
—Tiffany Caban, New York Daily News, 8 Mar. 2026
The lead stretched to 22 points over the next four minutes.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
One slithered into a backyard, under a patio chair, and another was found stretched out across the warm cement sidewalk leading into Matt Davis Park.
—Michele Gile, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026
The National Weather Service said strong storms and flash flood risks on Saturday stretched from the Great Lakes to Texas.
—Dallas Morning News, 7 Mar. 2026
Severe storm risk continues into the weekend The National Weather Service said strong storms and flash flood risks on Saturday stretched from the Great Lakes to Texas.
—Isabel Yip, NBC news, 7 Mar. 2026
Negotiations stretched across Connecticut, Georgia, New York, and the District of Columbia.
—Regina E. Mason, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2026
Fedde is being stretched out this spring, similar to Sean Burke, Jonathan Cannon, Sean Newcomb, Chris Murphy and Mike Vasil, in an attempt to join the rotation.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretched
Adjective
-
That combination of features — translucent body, segmented frame, protruding teeth, up to 11 claws and enlarged thoracic spines — made the organism distinct enough to warrant an entirely new genus.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Benign conditions like an enlarged prostate, prostatitis (inflammation), recent ejaculation, vigorous exercise or even a long bike ride can temporarily push your PSA up.—
Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
There are some who worry that the transformative power of AI in health care might be exaggerated, at least based on what’s in use now.—
Emily Brindley,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Critics say the company's goals are far-fetched and its claims exaggerated.—
Rob Stein,
NPR,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
While Democrats dominated the early voting numbers in Pulaski County -- one of the few heavily blue pockets of the state -- Democrats outnumbered Republicans in election day voting on Tuesday with 18,363 people casting Democratic ballots compared to the 10,500 who pulled ballots for Republicans.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The prosecutor alleged that Abril confronted the couple, at which point James MacEgan was shot and killed, before Abril grabbed MacEgan’s wife and pulled her into the creek.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Holding periods across buyout funds have lengthened, and many assets remain fundamentally strong but difficult to exit at acceptable valuations.—
Sunaina Sinha Haldea,
Fortune,
14 Feb. 2026
-
While that was to be only three weeks, Mohammadi’s time out of prison lengthened, possibly as activists and Western powers pushed Iran to keep her free.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Another member of the chat, William Bejerano — who tried to start a pro-life group at Miami Dade College — was the primary user of the n-word in the group.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
-
No Democrat is towering over the field, which is why party leaders and activists futilely tried to recruit big names like Padilla and former Vice President Kamala Harris.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
How state laws tightened the squeeze Two recent state laws significantly reduced Austin’s budget flexibility.—
Austin Sanders,
Austin American Statesman,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Driving lanes tightened quickly with Wembanyama roaming the paint.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Jenner's quirky off-the-shoulder blazer came with padded hips and was paired with a matching mini skirt.—
Hannah Malach,
InStyle,
25 Feb. 2026
-
There's a padded compartment to keep laptops or tablets secure, as well as zippered pockets for holding wallets and other valuables.—
Aly Walansky,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
His concern extended beyond the precise question of the neutrality proclamation; Madison offered a more general admonition against bestowing war powers on a single, potentially flawed individual.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
5 Mar. 2026
-
This academic year, the district extended the school day for elementary students by 20 minutes.—
Mike Danahey,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stretched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stretched. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
