STRETCHES Synonyms: 207 Similar and Opposite Words

stretches 1 of 2

noun

plural of stretch

as in expanses

a wide space or area a narrow stretch of beach below the cliffs

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Relevance

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

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as in ranges

the distance or extent between possible extremes the stories were written over a considerable stretch of time

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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

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stretches

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of stretch

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in pulls

to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure I stretched a back muscle, and the pain is killing me

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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

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as in tries

to subject (a personal quality or faculty) to often excessive stress your whining is stretching my patience to the limit

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as in tightens

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

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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 stretches

Noun

While Old Petty has shorter stretches along the water, the routing brings players through gently rolling terrain along a tidal estuary with sweeping coastline views. — Zach Schenfisch, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026 Scaloni’s side have laboured through long stretches of games only to come alive late on, with 12 of their 19 goals arriving after the 75th minute of normal time. — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 20 July 2026 While the drive includes a few narrow stretches and sheer gorge cliffs that aren’t for the faint of heart, those willing to make the journey will be rewarded with unforgettable sights. — Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 19 July 2026 Burns earned that advantage with one of the best two-round stretches in major championship history. — Dan Zaksheske, FOXNews.com, 19 July 2026 The spacecraft enters hibernation during long stretches of its journey to conserve resources. — Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026 The Derby's public address announcer implored the fans to cheer during some quiet stretches when homers — non-Phillies edition — were hit. — CBS News, 14 July 2026 The twin setbacks leave Republicans with a 51-47 majority in the Senate as lawmakers begin what is expected to be one of the busiest stretches of the year. — Nik Popli, Time, 13 July 2026 Leading scorer Kelsey Plum has missed two long stretches because of injuries, but the biggest headache for the team for much of the season has been its poor defense. — Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026

Verb

From a remote hilltop just north of Nablus, the view stretches across the occupied West Bank. — Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 21 July 2026 Seek a challenge, skill, project or perspective that stretches you beyond your routine. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026 The closure stretches along the ocean shoreline from the south end of Seacoast Drive to north of Carnation Avenue. — Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 20 July 2026 By engineering Aerolite, their proprietary lightweight performance fabric that stretches, breathes, resists wrinkles, garments unfold from a suitcase looking freshly pressed. — Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 20 July 2026 The 28216 zip code stretches northwest from just north of uptown past I-485. — Laura Horne, Charlotte Observer, 14 July 2026 Built in 2003, the house has four bedrooms and four bathrooms and stretches over 6,000 square feet. — Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 11 July 2026 South Africa’s history of violent anti-immigration riots stretches back to 2008, peaking again in 2015, 2019, and 2021, fueled by socioeconomic discontent. — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 10 July 2026 Like many of the world’s highest-earning athletes, Djokovic has invested a portion of his wealth in real estate, assembling a portfolio that stretches from the Mediterranean to the mountains of Monaco and beyond. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 10 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretches

Noun

The swamp's prairies are vast, watery expanses dotted with floating islands and stands of cypress and other trees.

— Drew Kann, AJC.com, 20 July 2026
The property makes the most of its secluded setting, where guests get to explore the wide expanses of desert and winding riverbeds without encountering other safari vehicles.

— Rebekah Peppler, Travel + Leisure, 14 July 2026

Definition of expanses

Noun

The traditional Little League distances are 46 and 60 feet, respectively.

— Jim Barnes July 22, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 July 2026
Offering realistic walking time estimates that account for building distances rather than just schedule grid gaps can also help attendees who experience time blindness plan their transitions.

— Tracy King, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026

Definition of distances

Verb

The best place to start is a sporting culture that exaggerates accomplishments and rewards capitalistic success before the sporting variety.

— Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
One sure focus is the rampant grade inflation that exaggerates student achievement and has made graduating high school close to meaningless as an indicator of college preparedness.

— U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 July 2026

Definition of exaggerates

Verb

The strategy pulls shoppers in with events, classes, concerts and attractions rather than relying on transactions alone.

— Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 22 July 2026
The system also pulls from more than 100 million products in Alibaba’s catalog and over two decades of trade data to help identify sourcing opportunities in the first place.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 22 July 2026

Definition of pulls

Verb

The secret is to choose a top with vertical details—think visible buttons, linear embroidery, or a high neck that visually lengthens the torso.

— René Chávez Esparza, Glamour, 9 July 2026
For greater tensile strength, the Bluesign partner is using looms from Muller and Kyang Yhe to create webbing with an even density that lessens the amount the material lengthens when under tension.

— Sarah Jones, Footwear News, 6 July 2026

Definition of lengthens

Verb

As Jonas tries to get work done upstairs, he is repeatedly disturbed by his mother, who is obnoxiously kvelling about his scientific breakthroughs to a neighbor in the yard.

— Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 18 July 2026
Every four years, FIFA tries to replicate that magic at the World Cup – not for one club team, but for every country that qualifies.

— Jack Cosbie, Rolling Stone, 18 July 2026