1
as in expanses
a wide space or area
a narrow stretch of beach below the cliffs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
3
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
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stretches
Stephen J. Nesbitt, New York Times, 16 June 2026
In between, there are stretches of wide valleys filled with junipers, pinyon pines, and jackrabbits peeking out from the sagebrush.
—Tamara Gane, Travel + Leisure, 15 June 2026
With consecutive outdoor championships and this year's indoor title already secured, Georgia's women's program continues one of the most dominant stretches in collegiate track and field.
—CBS News, 15 June 2026
Blashill kept his composure through such stretches.
—Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2026
King Charles arrived at his annual birthday parade amid one of the most positive stretches of his reign.
—Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 13 June 2026
Along with Lee, Chapman appears to have finally emerged from an extended slump by posting one of his best stretches of the season.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 8 June 2026
But Bridges struggled for long stretches of the season, including for the first three games of the first round, against the Atlanta Hawks.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 7 June 2026
At the time, Munro was spending long stretches in the hospital being treated for scoliosis and Klippel-Feil syndrome, a rare bone disorder.
—Sydney Page, Washington Post, 7 June 2026
Literary Hub, 16 June 2026
Your optimistic nature thrives on movement, so choose an inspiring route and ask bigger questions while wonder stretches your thinking.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 16 June 2026
The show will be staged in Epic’s Celestial Park, which stretches from the entrance to the foot of the Helios Grand Hotel.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 June 2026
But the storybook property’s Hollywood pedigree stretches back much further.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 15 June 2026
The 15-mile (one-way) Ojai Valley Bike Trail draws cyclists from across the Golden State and stretches from Ojai down to Ventura and the Pacific Coast.
—Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 14 June 2026
The Blue Ridge Parkway is nearly 500 miles of a scenic, mountainous road that stretches from Virginia to North Carolina.
—Usa Today Network, USA Today, 10 June 2026
Candice and Timothy show Brittany how ‘church hurt’ stretches out from the pulpit and into cultural norms around gender, sexuality, acceptance.
—Brittany Luse, NPR, 9 June 2026
The comfort food leans heavily on paprika, and the nightlife stretches well past sunrise.
—Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 9 June 2026
Noun
Despite Mike Trout’s strong start to the season and strong stretches from starters José Soriano, Reid Detmers and Walbert Ureña, the Angels have had a worse first half this season with first-year manager Kurt Suzuki at the helm.
—Stephen J. Nesbitt, New York Times, 16 June 2026
In between, there are stretches of wide valleys filled with junipers, pinyon pines, and jackrabbits peeking out from the sagebrush.
—Tamara Gane, Travel + Leisure, 15 June 2026
With consecutive outdoor championships and this year's indoor title already secured, Georgia's women's program continues one of the most dominant stretches in collegiate track and field.
—CBS News, 15 June 2026
Blashill kept his composure through such stretches.
—Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2026
King Charles arrived at his annual birthday parade amid one of the most positive stretches of his reign.
—Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 13 June 2026
Along with Lee, Chapman appears to have finally emerged from an extended slump by posting one of his best stretches of the season.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 8 June 2026
But Bridges struggled for long stretches of the season, including for the first three games of the first round, against the Atlanta Hawks.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 7 June 2026
At the time, Munro was spending long stretches in the hospital being treated for scoliosis and Klippel-Feil syndrome, a rare bone disorder.
—Sydney Page, Washington Post, 7 June 2026
Verb
The patriarch’s younger son, Abhay, thirty-nine, and his family live on the top floor in a spacious, breezy apartment that commands a fine view of Dhakuria Lake, which stretches away into the distance, flanking Southern Avenue.
—Literary Hub, 16 June 2026
Your optimistic nature thrives on movement, so choose an inspiring route and ask bigger questions while wonder stretches your thinking.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 16 June 2026
The show will be staged in Epic’s Celestial Park, which stretches from the entrance to the foot of the Helios Grand Hotel.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 June 2026
But the storybook property’s Hollywood pedigree stretches back much further.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 15 June 2026
The 15-mile (one-way) Ojai Valley Bike Trail draws cyclists from across the Golden State and stretches from Ojai down to Ventura and the Pacific Coast.
—Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 14 June 2026
The Blue Ridge Parkway is nearly 500 miles of a scenic, mountainous road that stretches from Virginia to North Carolina.
—Usa Today Network, USA Today, 10 June 2026
Candice and Timothy show Brittany how ‘church hurt’ stretches out from the pulpit and into cultural norms around gender, sexuality, acceptance.
—Brittany Luse, NPR, 9 June 2026
The comfort food leans heavily on paprika, and the nightlife stretches well past sunrise.
—Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 9 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretches
Noun
-
This is not even considering the dedication of vast expanses of farmland to solar farms.—
Louise Schiavone,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
-
The Okefenokee swamp's prairies are vast, watery expanses dotted with floating islands and stands of cypress and other trees.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
UCHealth’s decision to postpone surgeries whiles staff addressed the sterilization problem stands out from other hospitals that have found themselves in similar situations.—
Jessica Seaman,
Denver Post,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Cooking settings and temperature ranges Toaster ovens frequently come with more than just a toasting setting, usually including a broil, bake and warming option.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
15 June 2026
-
The aircraft can also travel at speeds of up to 25 meters per second, extending surveillance beyond traditional engagement ranges.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
Smoke shops that are already in business within those distances will have two years to close.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
-
Brit Pop often trafficked in ironies, distances, and coolness.—
Jerry Saltz,
Vulture,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
The case drew widespread attention because Dee Dee was suspected of having Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a form of abuse in which a caregiver exaggerates, fabricates or induces illness in someone under their care.—
Jessica Sager,
PEOPLE,
11 June 2026
-
Dehydration exaggerates creases and makes skin look less supple.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Coming to the glum realization that love isn’t outlasting infatuation is trickier to write about than a more incendiary subject like unfaithfulness, but Rodrigo pulls it off.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
12 June 2026
-
In the end, an inexperienced minor – who has no idea who hired them – pulls the trigger.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Francisco Alvarez’s return lengthens the lineup.—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
13 June 2026
-
When the cycle lengthens, growth is a tax on the balance sheet rather than a contribution.—
Ali Aydan,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
The New York Knicks announced plans for three official watch parties for Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Saturday, as New York tries to clinch its first NBA championship in 53 years.—
Mark Prussin,
CBS News,
13 June 2026
-
The tour comes as Emanuel tries to differentiate himself from other Democrats considering a run for their party’s presidential nomination.—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
13 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stretches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stretches. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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