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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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
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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
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
Arkansas Online, 22 Mar. 2026
During ejection, a moon’s orbit can become highly elongated, generating strong tidal forces as it is repeatedly stretched and compressed by its host planet.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 22 Mar. 2026
The Cubs will want at least one of Brown and Assad to stay stretched out at Triple-A Iowa for starting pitching depth.
—Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the TSA wait time stretched beyond two and a half hours, according to a CNN tracker.
—Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 22 Mar. 2026
This isn’t a long-term solution, but Manaea and the Mets will have to figure out a way to keep him stretched out.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 21 Mar. 2026
The Hurricanes stretched their lead to 10 points late in the first half.
—ABC News, 21 Mar. 2026
Brinson did not have time to wait in the long line that stretched down 52nd Street, but the town accommodated walk-ups.
—Steve Maugeri, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
Right-hander Carson Seymour also pitched four innings in his last outing and could be stretched out as a starter to begin the season.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 15 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
Unseasonably high temperatures hit US Parts of California and Arizona were under extreme heat warnings again Saturday while sweltering summerlike weather even stretched as far north as Nebraska just a day into spring.
—Arkansas Online, 22 Mar. 2026
During ejection, a moon’s orbit can become highly elongated, generating strong tidal forces as it is repeatedly stretched and compressed by its host planet.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 22 Mar. 2026
The Cubs will want at least one of Brown and Assad to stay stretched out at Triple-A Iowa for starting pitching depth.
—Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026
At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the TSA wait time stretched beyond two and a half hours, according to a CNN tracker.
—Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 22 Mar. 2026
This isn’t a long-term solution, but Manaea and the Mets will have to figure out a way to keep him stretched out.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 21 Mar. 2026
The Hurricanes stretched their lead to 10 points late in the first half.
—ABC News, 21 Mar. 2026
Brinson did not have time to wait in the long line that stretched down 52nd Street, but the town accommodated walk-ups.
—Steve Maugeri, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
Right-hander Carson Seymour also pitched four innings in his last outing and could be stretched out as a starter to begin the season.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretched
Adjective
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In the enlarged vision of the classics slowly taking shape in the American academy, Yanxiao has found an intellectual foothold.—
Chang Che,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Maddix was born by emergency C-section with an enlarged heart that was causing a laundry list of other medical problems.—
Libby Smith,
CBS News,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The lack of chemistry between the couple is exaggerated by Segel’s blasé performance, made all the more expressionless by Weaving’s naturally expressive face.—
Katie Rife,
IndieWire,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Some health experts have said that, while there has been evidence of fraud, the concerns have been exaggerated.—
Greg Iacurci,
CNBC,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The prosecutor said 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,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Third in growth from 2020 to 2025, Iredell County pulled just ahead of Lancaster County for the highest single-year growth rate.—
John Marks,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This gin sour lengthened with soda water is a simple yet tasty delight of a drink.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
21 Mar. 2026
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Wildfire risks The same forces constraining western water supplies could also set the stage for the West's wildfire season, which has lengthened over the last few decades with rising temperatures and intensifying drought.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The chief and others named tried to repress the report — and a judge initially sided with them — but it was eventually released nine months later.—
Alexandra Glorioso,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
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Court documents allege that Elliott and two others tried similar schemes in Los Angeles.—
Julia Coin,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Her report made numerous recommendations related to the planning of events at Wembley and security at the stadium, but also suggested that the legal framework to deal with tailgating should be significantly tightened.—
Matt Slater,
New York Times,
20 Mar. 2026
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That’s when something tightened, a brief, instinctual clam-closing and then loosening again just as fast.—
Dawn Lerman,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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In the summer of 2018, early in the first padded scrimmage of their freshman years at Alabama, Surtain (running with the 1s) matched up with Waddle (running with the 2s) in the slot.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
22 Mar. 2026
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The padded interior absorbs shock and reduces movement during storage or transport.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Yes, Kaufman-Renn’s quick hands at the rim extended a special NCAA Tournament run for Purdue.—
Janie McCauley,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
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The Shah’s Western orientation extended to culture, and a wide range of artistically important international films could be seen in Tehran, in time including those of the French New Wave.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stretched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stretched. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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