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
Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 9 Jan. 2026
What Most Thrift Stores Can't Accept Large Appliances Refrigerators, freezers, stoves, washers, dryers, and other large appliances that are still in good working order are great to pass along, but thrift stores often don’t have space to keep these items for long stretches of time.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 8 Jan. 2026
During key stretches of the game, Newhall played three freshmen (McKenna O’Connell, Sysy Emmanuel, and Jaylin Frye), a sophomore (Charleigh Green), and a senior (Sky Watson), putting full trust in his players.
—Justin Barrasso, Boston Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
The highway department will strategically apply salt to intersections, hills, bridges and curbs in subdivisions, but aim for conserving on other stretches of subdivision roads.
—Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
The shelving unit that contains some of his collection of roughly 20,000 books stretches to the ceiling of the two-story living room; McDaniel would later perch on its narrow catwalk to deliver his lecture.
—Lila Shapiro, Vulture, 7 Jan. 2026
The Chiefs also had stretches of unclutchness.
—Jesse Newell, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
This sets him apart from most of the other bettors at his altitude, of which there are a few dozen, who visit from out of town on occasion and gamble for marathon stretches.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2025
Grab a chair on Ipanema Beach, sip a fresh coconut, and cool off in the ocean between stretches of sunbathing.
—Aaron Randolph, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
Connor Greene, Time, 9 Jan. 2026
Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado established a similar team in her 14th District, which stretches from downtown to Northeast Los Angeles.
—City News Service, Daily News, 9 Jan. 2026
Gerlach was arrested Tuesday leaving Mount Moriah, a sprawling cemetery that stretches from Philadelphia into the nearby borough of Yeadon, according to the probable cause affidavit.
—Emma Caughlan, NBC news, 9 Jan. 2026
From this hilltop setting, the Boston skyline stretches across the horizon, delivering dramatic sunset views that feel cinematic.
—Miriam Schwartz, Boston Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
Coogan stretches his massive wingspan and sways to the music as the on-air countdown ticks toward zero.
—Julia Black, Vanity Fair, 8 Jan. 2026
His stellar Bigger & Weirder Tour got a massive expansion that stretches the dates from May on through to October.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 8 Jan. 2026
Forecasting revenues over a 99-year period stretches credibility, as economic models typically lose reliability within five years, making century-long projections speculative at best.
—Michelle Grau, Sun Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026
The district stretches across both the city’s South and West sides, through the Loop, and includes Austin, Englewood, East and West Garfield Park, North Lawndale, Little Italy, Noble Square, and the West and South Loop.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
Noun
His tendency to look for the shot before the pass is affecting his teammates, and overall the team’s offense is going through some horrible stretches.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 9 Jan. 2026
What Most Thrift Stores Can't Accept Large Appliances Refrigerators, freezers, stoves, washers, dryers, and other large appliances that are still in good working order are great to pass along, but thrift stores often don’t have space to keep these items for long stretches of time.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 8 Jan. 2026
During key stretches of the game, Newhall played three freshmen (McKenna O’Connell, Sysy Emmanuel, and Jaylin Frye), a sophomore (Charleigh Green), and a senior (Sky Watson), putting full trust in his players.
—Justin Barrasso, Boston Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
The highway department will strategically apply salt to intersections, hills, bridges and curbs in subdivisions, but aim for conserving on other stretches of subdivision roads.
—Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
The shelving unit that contains some of his collection of roughly 20,000 books stretches to the ceiling of the two-story living room; McDaniel would later perch on its narrow catwalk to deliver his lecture.
—Lila Shapiro, Vulture, 7 Jan. 2026
The Chiefs also had stretches of unclutchness.
—Jesse Newell, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
This sets him apart from most of the other bettors at his altitude, of which there are a few dozen, who visit from out of town on occasion and gamble for marathon stretches.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2025
Grab a chair on Ipanema Beach, sip a fresh coconut, and cool off in the ocean between stretches of sunbathing.
—Aaron Randolph, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
Russia, which stretches over half of the Arctic Ocean coastline, currently controls a majority of the region.
—Connor Greene, Time, 9 Jan. 2026
Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado established a similar team in her 14th District, which stretches from downtown to Northeast Los Angeles.
—City News Service, Daily News, 9 Jan. 2026
Gerlach was arrested Tuesday leaving Mount Moriah, a sprawling cemetery that stretches from Philadelphia into the nearby borough of Yeadon, according to the probable cause affidavit.
—Emma Caughlan, NBC news, 9 Jan. 2026
From this hilltop setting, the Boston skyline stretches across the horizon, delivering dramatic sunset views that feel cinematic.
—Miriam Schwartz, Boston Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
Coogan stretches his massive wingspan and sways to the music as the on-air countdown ticks toward zero.
—Julia Black, Vanity Fair, 8 Jan. 2026
His stellar Bigger & Weirder Tour got a massive expansion that stretches the dates from May on through to October.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 8 Jan. 2026
Forecasting revenues over a 99-year period stretches credibility, as economic models typically lose reliability within five years, making century-long projections speculative at best.
—Michelle Grau, Sun Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026
The district stretches across both the city’s South and West sides, through the Loop, and includes Austin, Englewood, East and West Garfield Park, North Lawndale, Little Italy, Noble Square, and the West and South Loop.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretches
Noun
-
Large expanses of seats were unused during the third-bottom home side’s 2-1 defeat to Forest, who are in 17th place, on Tuesday.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Trudging across six lanes of highway, and expanses of parking lot, to reach Soldier Field never had many fans, but there is zero romance in this new spot.—
Christopher Borrelli,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Jan. 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
-
Although some cars available in China, including Tesla's long-range Model Y and Zeekr 7X, produced by Volvo owner Geely, also advertise ranges above 800 km.—
Marie Mannes,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Alpine village-style lodging ranges from basic hotel rooms to five-bedroom mountaintop townhomes, where guests can ski out their back doors.—
Ashlyn Ware,
Midwest Living,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The aircraft achieves ultra-short takeoff and landing distances and can rapidly switch between cargo transport and airdrop modes.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Jan. 2026
-
As such, the study of GoHam and the discovery of tantalizing hints of planet formation could give astronomers a better understanding of how giant planets form at great distances from their parent stars.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The same prime minister who exaggerates his power is also fine with being portrayed as the patsy of more influential actors.—
Aluf Benn,
Foreign Affairs,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Tainy’s Prometheus — is portrayed by Feid, dressed in an oversized leather coat and lit in a manner that exaggerates his grills in an eerie way.—
Juan J. Arroyo,
Rolling Stone,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Ariana Grande pulls Teyana Taylor in for a tight squeeze after the latter won her award.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Joining Watkins for the sit-down with Deadline, Nurse John pulls back the curtain on his experience of his stratospheric rise, reflecting on the emotional impact of sudden viral visibility and the practical mechanics of turning internet attention into a sustainable live business.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
This mascara builds volume and lengthens your lashes while staying still on the eyes.—
Shalwah Evans,
Glamour,
31 Dec. 2025
-
The story blooms and lengthens and sprawls, going from generation to generation, reckoning with the weight of lineage and history and wounds.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
One of the agents tries to open the driver’s side door and reaches through the window.—
Devon Lum,
Twin Cities,
8 Jan. 2026
-
That opportunity can best be seized if the opposition remains active and tries to back the regime into a corner.—
Michael Albertus,
The Atlantic,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stretches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stretches. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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