Synonyms of stretches

stretches 1 of 2

noun

plural of stretch

1

as in expanses

a wide space or area

a narrow stretch of beach below the cliffs

Synonyms & Similar Words

• expanses
• expansions
• lengths
• reaches
• distances
• sheets
• plains
• wastes
• spreads
• breadths
• depths
• fields
• extents
• territories
• sweeps
• domains
• spans
• spheres
• scales
• spectra
• extensions
• voids
• ranges
• scopes
• latitudes
• magnitudes
• amplitudes
• gamuts
• immensities
• compasses

2

as in whiles

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

• whiles
• bits
• space
• spans
• spells
• minutes
• days
• seasons
• lapses
• moments
• shakes
• epochs
• seconds
• intervals
• spurts
• eras
• trices
• split seconds
• ages
• aeons
• winks
• twinkles
• nanoseconds
• perpetuities
• interludes
• infinities
• beats
• instants
• flashes
• intermissions
• heartbeats
• twinklings
• eternities
• interims
• jiffs
• New York minutes
• eyeblinks
• jiffies

3

as in ranges

the distance or extent between possible extremes

the stories were written over a considerable stretch of time

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ranges
• scales
• spreads
• spectra
• widths
• diapasons
• reaches
• gamuts
• dimensions
• measures
• pitches
• sweeps
• scopes
• realms
• extents
• amplitudes
• ambits
• compasses

4

as in distances

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

• distances
• widths
• lengths
• spacings
• removes
• heights
• spreads
• leads
• spaces
• ways
• areas
• depths
• reaches
• extensions
• throws
• sweeps
• rises
• volumes
• altitudes
• falls
• ranges
• breadths
• flights
• drops
• casts
• hauls
• extents
• shots
• clearances
• berths
• scopes

stretches

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of stretch

1

as in exaggerates

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

• exaggerates
• pads
• enhances
• colors
• expands
• embellishes
• embroiders
• hyperbolizes
• satirizes
• magnifies
• elaborates (on)
• emphasizes
• stresses
• amplifies
• hedges
• overemphasizes
• enlarges (on or upon)
• fleshes (out)
• overdoes
• overstates
• overdraws
• plays up
• overplays
• gussies up
• fudges
• caricatures
• dresses up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• minimizes
• understates
• belittles
• plays down

2

as in pulls

to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure

I stretched a back muscle, and the pain is killing me

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pulls
• damages
• hurts
• bruises
• strains
• weakens
• racks
• wrenches
• impairs
• tears
• wounds
• harms
• taxes
• frays
• cripples
• batters
• lames
• mangles
• mutilates

3

as in lengthens

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

• lengthens
• extends
• increases
• prolongs
• elongates
• expands
• draws out
• drags (out)
• protracts
• outstretches
• enlarges
• amplifies
• thins
• attenuates

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• shortens
• cuts
• decreases
• reduces
• diminishes
• curtails
• lessens
• abridges
• cuts back
• abbreviates
• thickens

4

as in tries

to subject (a personal quality or faculty) to often excessive stress

your whining is stretching my patience to the limit

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tries
• pushes
• strains
• tests
• gets (to)
• taxes
• annoys
• bothers
• irritates
• pressures
• pains
• demands
• harasses
• aggravates
• exacts
• presses
• exasperates
• irks
• gnaws (at)
• pesters
• riles
• importunes
• vexes
• grates
• agitates
• nettles
• harries
• hassles
• spites
• galls
• peeves

5

as in tightens

to draw tight

if the canvas isn't properly stretched over the frame, there will be sagging over time

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tightens
• tenses
• lengthens
• elongates
• tautens
• extends
• strains
• constricts
• cinches

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• slacks
• loosens
• relaxes
• eases
• slackens

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of stretches

Noun

As space agencies look toward longer missions to the moon and Mars, astronauts will spend extended stretches beyond the reach of Earth's magnetic field. — Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Walls of glass glide open to expose the main living spaces onto a large terrace, where an infinity pool stretches toward Biscayne Bay and a private dock. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 24 Sep. 2026

The Guardian breaks down how people are folding screen-free time into everyday routines, from creating physical distance from their phones to setting aside longer stretches without any screens at all. — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Sep. 2026

Plant operators will be able to stretch their operating cycles to 24 months, cutting down on expensive refueling outages and keeping the plant running continuously for longer stretches. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2026

His prolific output was powered by fourteen-to-eighteen hour stretches of writing, all of which were powered by cups of strong black coffee. — Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 23 Sep. 2026

Some stretches of the river could move and fill faster depending on local conditions, however, so residents should be careful when near a riverbed that is downstream of a release. — Dale Denwalt, Oklahoman, 22 Sep. 2026

The lack of action during some early stretches prompted the first boos from the crowd. — Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026

Banner Elk is ideally located near some of the most stunning stretches of the Blue Ridge Parkway. — Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 19 Sep. 2026

Verb

The selection also stretches the fashion theme to cover youth culture and music. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 Sep. 2026

Palacios, of RevED, said the issue of dysfunction among board members stretches beyond their request for an apology from Winn. — Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2026

The image sees Wilson topless and standing with her back to the screen, showing off a massive and elaborate cross that stretches from the top of her shoulders to the top of her pants. — Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 24 Sep. 2026

The fall foliage season in California stretches from September through December, California Fall Color said. — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Why arugula matters beyond digestion The bitter-greens bonus stretches way past the pre-dinner ritual. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026

The costume weighs around 20 pounds and stretches more than eight feet tall. — Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 23 Sep. 2026

Look for the version that stretches your world without requiring you to abandon everything familiar. — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026

In March, Saudi Arabia, because of the shipping restrictions in the Persian Gulf, began transporting its crude oil through a pipeline that stretches from the kingdom’s Eastern Province to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, on its western coast. — Kareem Fahim, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2026