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

Washington recognized various organizations turning out for the event and then led some group stretches. — Shivika Verma, Mercury News, 6 July 2026 Tents, cabanas and canopies have been banned along stretches of the Jersey Shore for the last two years. — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026 Elsewhere on campus, bass-heavy dance music pulses from a crowded gym class, where an energetic instructor leads around 30 trainees through squats, stretches and lifting drills. — Christopher Clark, NPR, 5 July 2026 As fencing students began to leave or do cooldown stretches, Sullivan continued to practice her footwork and precision with her foil by a target bag. — Elijah Polance, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2026 Certain stretches of the East Coast, however, are more likely than others to see shark activity. — Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026 Travelers can take their pick from a range of scenic spots, from the surf-friendly South Beach Park to quieter stretches of Wabasso Beach Park and the aptly named Golden Sands Park. — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026 The state’s large population, high number of vehicles and long stretches of intense summer heat all contribute to the elevated risk. — Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 30 June 2026 Paraguay wins after a marathon match that saw Germany live in the attacking third for large stretches of the game. — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 30 June 2026

Verb

With a history that stretches back to 1221, this is considered the world’s oldest pharmacy, where Dominican friars produced medicinal tinctures and perfumes. — Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2026 The rivalry between the neighboring nations stretches back over 100 years on the pitch without ever being one that has slipped into hatred. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 6 July 2026 The largest port in Europe stretches 24 strategic miles, from the historic flat-bottom barges in the city’s old inner harbor to the dunes and white windmills of the North Sea coast. — Anna Mulrine Grobe, Christian Science Monitor, 6 July 2026 The concrete-and-glass building stretches 14 stories high and was inspired by the work of the late Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. — Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 6 July 2026 Almost daily long-range attacks on Russian oil facilities have created a fuel crisis and heaped political pressure on the Kremlin as its all-out invasion of Ukraine stretches into its fifth year. — ABC News, 4 July 2026 Well, at least not inside its fenced parameters, which stretches about a mile. — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 4 July 2026 The Shelter Island porch stretches the entire width of the house, which nestles in a grove of trees about 250 feet from the shore. — Fred Albert, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026 That does, admittedly, become its own detriment as the record stretches into the latter half. — Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 3 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretches

Noun

Top-end homes are increasingly being engineered with structural systems more commonly associated with commercial buildings, including extensive steel framing that enables larger expanses of glass and fewer interior columns.

— Mark David, Robb Report, 4 July 2026
Surrounded by wide open expanses of the Santa Monica Mountains, this modern abode has a direct connection with its surroundings via the sliding doors and casement windows that swing open to beckon in fresh air and sunlight.

— Kristin Braswell, Architectural Digest, 30 June 2026

Definition of expanses

Noun

The joint technology could simultaneously extend EV driving ranges, slash charging times, and lower production costs.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 6 July 2026
Many animals can also hear in ranges outside of what humans are capable of, Heather Kostick, associate director of the Penn Center for Science, Sustainability, and the Media, told CNN.

— Julianna Bragg, CNN Money, 5 July 2026

Definition of ranges

Noun

Scale-out networks connect thousands of AI computers across a data center, making optics the obvious choice for long distances.

— IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 9 July 2026
Traveling such vast distances between our solar system's most remote objects means New Horizons often cruises for months at a time with little to do other than passively collect data.

— Brett Tingley, Space.com, 8 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

Whether they’re kitten-heeled or a tall pump, this shoe design lengthens the leg, offsetting the Bermuda shorts to create a streamlined silhouette.

— René Chávez Esparza, Glamour, 3 July 2026
These Levi’s 314 Shaping Straight Jeans and Classic Straight Jeans, for example, have an elongating silhouette that lengthens the legs.

— Isabel Bekele, InStyle, 30 June 2026

Definition of lengthens

Verb

North Field on Tinian, which was once the busiest airport in the world, was shut down after the war but is undergoing renovation to become an alternate base to Guam as Washington tries to disperse its assets around the region.

— Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Against this bedlam, Rhaenyra tries to fashion herself a real queen.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 July 2026