1
as in extension
the act of making longer
excessive stretching can cause the fabric to tear or lose its elasticity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in exaggeration
the representation of something in terms that go beyond the facts
your constant stretching of the truth is going to get you in trouble someday
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in exaggerating
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
as in pulling
to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure
I stretched a back muscle, and the pain is killing me
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in lengthening
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 trying
to subject (a personal quality or faculty) to often excessive stress
your whining is stretching my patience to the limit
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in tightening
to draw tight
if the canvas isn't properly stretched over the frame, there will be sagging over time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stretching
Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 6 Nov. 2025
Yoga, stretching, and extra sleep (past all the snoozes) become their own kind of training.
—Jamilee Hoglind, Outside, 31 Oct. 2025
If your hamstrings always feel tight, endless stretching won’t help.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
The unique structure helps the LCEs resist stretching, giving them exceptional stiffness without losing flexibility.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2025
Planks, which have elements of Pilates, yoga, and stretching, require little space.
—Mallory Creveling, Health, 22 Oct. 2025
But now this is a nonissue with the Dyson Airwrap Diffuse, which boasts a full suite of attachments for stretching, defining, and enhancing my curls.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2025
But in general, stretching may have a positive impact on patients with high blood pressure, says Jossef Amirian, MD, a cardiologist at Manhattan Cardiology in New York City.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 16 Oct. 2025
For example, one of my senior worker clients needed an hour each morning for yoga and stretching, due to her fibromyalgia.
—Amy Lindgren, Twin Cities, 13 Oct. 2025
David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 7 Nov. 2025
Without stretching their budget, travelers can enjoy 22 miles of pristine coastline or cross the bridge to hop on a shuttle with Explore Jax Core Tours, where the city’s history, culture, and future unfold through vivid storytelling and physical representation.
—Essence, 7 Nov. 2025
The president's 63% disapproval rating in the poll is also a noteworthy change to numbers stretching back to January 2025.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
Its mighty 12-cylinder heart is mounted transversely, stretching side-to-side across the chassis instead of the front-to-back layout usually used with engines of more than four cylinders.
—Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2025
The post comes amid increasing concerns around the amount of investment going toward artificial intelligence and data centers, a trend some see as stretching stock market valuations to their limit while putting downward pressure on an already shaky labor market.
—Steve Kopack, NBC news, 6 Nov. 2025
Even in urban areas like Phoenix and Tucson, many practices are at capacity, with wait times for new patient appointments stretching for months.
—Sixteen Ramos, AZCentral.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Guests mingled and dined at long, stretching tables lined with plum calla lilies and small golden lamps.
—Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 2 Nov. 2025
Zelenskyy said attacks were reported in the capital Kyiv and at least nine other Ukrainian regions, stretching from frontline areas in the southeast of the country to the border with Poland in the west.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
Heart rate decreases during stretching, which could signify the body entering a calm state.
—Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 6 Nov. 2025
Yoga, stretching, and extra sleep (past all the snoozes) become their own kind of training.
—Jamilee Hoglind, Outside, 31 Oct. 2025
If your hamstrings always feel tight, endless stretching won’t help.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
The unique structure helps the LCEs resist stretching, giving them exceptional stiffness without losing flexibility.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2025
Planks, which have elements of Pilates, yoga, and stretching, require little space.
—Mallory Creveling, Health, 22 Oct. 2025
But now this is a nonissue with the Dyson Airwrap Diffuse, which boasts a full suite of attachments for stretching, defining, and enhancing my curls.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2025
But in general, stretching may have a positive impact on patients with high blood pressure, says Jossef Amirian, MD, a cardiologist at Manhattan Cardiology in New York City.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 16 Oct. 2025
For example, one of my senior worker clients needed an hour each morning for yoga and stretching, due to her fibromyalgia.
—Amy Lindgren, Twin Cities, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
He was first elected to the House in 1992, and now represents an inland district stretching from the southern Riverside suburbs to Palm Springs.
—David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 7 Nov. 2025
Without stretching their budget, travelers can enjoy 22 miles of pristine coastline or cross the bridge to hop on a shuttle with Explore Jax Core Tours, where the city’s history, culture, and future unfold through vivid storytelling and physical representation.
—Essence, 7 Nov. 2025
The president's 63% disapproval rating in the poll is also a noteworthy change to numbers stretching back to January 2025.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
Its mighty 12-cylinder heart is mounted transversely, stretching side-to-side across the chassis instead of the front-to-back layout usually used with engines of more than four cylinders.
—Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2025
The post comes amid increasing concerns around the amount of investment going toward artificial intelligence and data centers, a trend some see as stretching stock market valuations to their limit while putting downward pressure on an already shaky labor market.
—Steve Kopack, NBC news, 6 Nov. 2025
Even in urban areas like Phoenix and Tucson, many practices are at capacity, with wait times for new patient appointments stretching for months.
—Sixteen Ramos, AZCentral.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Guests mingled and dined at long, stretching tables lined with plum calla lilies and small golden lamps.
—Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 2 Nov. 2025
Zelenskyy said attacks were reported in the capital Kyiv and at least nine other Ukrainian regions, stretching from frontline areas in the southeast of the country to the border with Poland in the west.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 30 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretching
Noun
-
Darbin Wofford, deputy director of health care for the centrist Democratic group Third Way, said even if there’s an agreement that reopens the government without a subsidy extension, Republicans already own the consequences.—
Nathaniel Weixel,
The Hill,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The Clippers rewarded the 36-year-old point guard with a two-year, $81 million contract extension.—
Kurt Badenhausen,
Sportico.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter, the planet of expansion, exaggeration, and big-picture dreams.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Pharrell and Adidas have released hundreds of sneakers together — and that’s no exaggeration.—
Riley Jones,
Footwear News,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In the series, Gacy enjoyed talking about many of his accomplishments and exaggerating some of his stories.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Blumenthal apologized for exaggerating his military record in 2010 after an investigation by the New York Times.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Both candidates had coattails, pulling along fellow Democrats as Republican turnout sagged.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
5 Nov. 2025
-
After decades of wars in the Middle East, many American politicians, civil society organizations, and citizens advocate for pulling back, arguing that the United States can no longer serve as the world’s policeman.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The soil is warming, days are lengthening, and new roots have months to establish before winter.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Intuitive Machines believes this system will degrade more slowly, lengthening operational lifespans.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Someone trying to keep the clicks coming to make a living, or a leader of the repressed?—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
-
My body’s in a C shape, trying to track the aim.—
Adam B. Vary,
Variety,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The system not only identified the optimal torque range for tightening bolts, but also recommended which additional tests engineers should prioritize.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Human as the Premium Automation moves fastest through tasks designed to be predictable, which is why standardized roles are tightening.—
Neel Somani,
Rolling Stone,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Drawing from his years inside Microsoft, Nasso delivers portrayals of tech CEOs that feel less like caricature and more like surgical roasts from someone who’s read through the Slack channels.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
29 Oct. 2025
-
The performances are deliriously inspired, from Mark Ruffalo’s hilarious caricature of insecure manhood to Willem Dafoe’s oddly paternal mad scientist to Stone’s astonishing mental maturation through every developmental stage on the way to adulthood.—
A.A. Dowd,
Vulture,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stretching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stretching. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
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