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
Cathy Cassata, Health, 4 Sep. 2025
In that case, stretching isn’t going to be your solution.
—Jenny McCoy, SELF, 3 Sep. 2025
Therapeutic stretching and massages are great for recovery.
—Novant Health, Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 2025
Looking Back, Moving Forward My first year as CEO has been a journey of stretching, learning, and leading in uncertainty.
—Trickleup, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Some great exercises for that are Pilates, yoga, tai chi and dynamic stretching.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 1 Sep. 2025
That might include a lukewarm shower followed by applying fragrance-free moisturizer, then ten minutes of gentle stretching or meditation.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 25 Aug. 2025
Tension headaches often improve with rest, hydration, gentle stretching or over-the-counter pain killers.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2025
In a series of tests, the researchers explored how pristine and damaged sensors experienced drift, which is the gradual change in a sensor’s signal over a long period of continuous stretching and relaxing.
—IEEE Spectrum, 18 Aug. 2025
Katie Lockhart, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2025
Across eight episodes, Levy explores eight countries—Austria, Canada, England, India, Ireland, Mexico, South Korea and the United States—touching down in dreamy, horizon-stretching destinations that broaden his perspective, as well as his viewers’ outlook.
—Laura Manske, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Shark nets were installed across 51 beaches in NSW, for the season starting September 1, across 51 beaches stretching around 140 miles from Newcastle to Wollongong, 9News reports.
—Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2025
Because so much of Janelle and Lisa’s work is about pattern recognition, visual twinning and parallels in objects and language, stretching the experience across two buildings naturally builds in space to process these various connections.
—Michael James Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2025
Though Matarraña has a rich viticultural history stretching back centuries, this legacy was largely uprooted in the 1990s, when vines were replaced by more profitable crops such as almonds and olives.
—Siobhan Reid, Robb Report, 7 Sep. 2025
Police tape stretching across a road in front of a crime scene.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
If that first season was a high-speed joyride—part Mad Max, part Mario Kart—Season 2 hit the accelerator, stretching across 10 episodes that grew bolder, stranger, and more emotionally grounded, with a finale that offers its characters a glimpse of what life beyond survival looks like.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 28 Aug. 2025
Crunch up and twist your right shoulder and rib cage toward your left knee while stretching your left leg straight.
—Health Editorial Team, Health, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
To prevent this, Brown recommended adding in some sort of other exercise, such as strength training, stretching, and walking, to your weekly routine.
—Cathy Cassata, Health, 4 Sep. 2025
In that case, stretching isn’t going to be your solution.
—Jenny McCoy, SELF, 3 Sep. 2025
Therapeutic stretching and massages are great for recovery.
—Novant Health, Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 2025
Looking Back, Moving Forward My first year as CEO has been a journey of stretching, learning, and leading in uncertainty.
—Trickleup, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Some great exercises for that are Pilates, yoga, tai chi and dynamic stretching.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 1 Sep. 2025
That might include a lukewarm shower followed by applying fragrance-free moisturizer, then ten minutes of gentle stretching or meditation.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 25 Aug. 2025
Tension headaches often improve with rest, hydration, gentle stretching or over-the-counter pain killers.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2025
In a series of tests, the researchers explored how pristine and damaged sensors experienced drift, which is the gradual change in a sensor’s signal over a long period of continuous stretching and relaxing.
—IEEE Spectrum, 18 Aug. 2025
Verb
Complimentary activities range from morning stretching with a sea breeze to late-afternoon volleyball in the sand to learning about local culture through a Boduberu drum session.
—Katie Lockhart, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2025
Across eight episodes, Levy explores eight countries—Austria, Canada, England, India, Ireland, Mexico, South Korea and the United States—touching down in dreamy, horizon-stretching destinations that broaden his perspective, as well as his viewers’ outlook.
—Laura Manske, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Shark nets were installed across 51 beaches in NSW, for the season starting September 1, across 51 beaches stretching around 140 miles from Newcastle to Wollongong, 9News reports.
—Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2025
Because so much of Janelle and Lisa’s work is about pattern recognition, visual twinning and parallels in objects and language, stretching the experience across two buildings naturally builds in space to process these various connections.
—Michael James Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2025
Though Matarraña has a rich viticultural history stretching back centuries, this legacy was largely uprooted in the 1990s, when vines were replaced by more profitable crops such as almonds and olives.
—Siobhan Reid, Robb Report, 7 Sep. 2025
Police tape stretching across a road in front of a crime scene.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
If that first season was a high-speed joyride—part Mad Max, part Mario Kart—Season 2 hit the accelerator, stretching across 10 episodes that grew bolder, stranger, and more emotionally grounded, with a finale that offers its characters a glimpse of what life beyond survival looks like.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 28 Aug. 2025
Crunch up and twist your right shoulder and rib cage toward your left knee while stretching your left leg straight.
—Health Editorial Team, Health, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretching
Noun
-
Whatever the case may be, Purdy landed a five-year, $265 million contract extension from the 49ers earlier this offseason, a very hefty contract for the player who was selected with the final selection of the 2022 NFL Draft.—
Matthew Schmidt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Hunter Luepke is the latest Dallas Cowboy to sign a contract extension following the team’s trade of pass rusher Micah Parsons.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
To say that Pandemic Donuts single-handedly carried a significant portion of Denver through the COVID-19 pandemic would be an exaggeration.—
Jonathan Shikes,
Denver Post,
22 Aug. 2025
-
In the Coen brothers’ films, wondrous coincidences and absurd exaggerations come off as a comic cosmic order, as a cynical version of metaphysics.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
This exercise revealed Janelle wasn’t exaggerating.—
Albert Kim,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
-
Retailing for $1,073 and available in purple, black, brown, highlighter yellow and red, the Metal Dragon boot has become one of Windowsen’s most recognizable designs, known for exaggerating scale and structure.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
3 Sep. 2019
Verb
-
Instead, his impact, like pulling children into his winner's circle, will continue to be honored by other tracks.—
Stephanie Kuzydym,
The Courier-Journal,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Carpenter spoke with Morning Edition host Leila Fadel about the challenges of relationships, her controversial album cover, which depicts her kneeling beside a man who is pulling her hair, and the new songs featured on the album.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The bottoms feature a wide, high-waistband for a smoothing appearance and are subtly flared at the hem, offering a leg-lengthening look.—
Melony Forcier,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Sep. 2025
-
These lengthening formulas prioritize coating each lash sleekly, with no bumps or lumps of product.—
Alanna Martine Kilkeary,
Glamour,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Hit Man Based on an outrageous true story, Richard Linklater's 2024 action rom-com sees Glen Powell donning the many disguises of Gary Johnson, a New Orleans Police Department contractor who poses as a hitman to arrest those trying to hire him.—
Jacqueline Weiss,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Panouses regularly fields inquiries from investors, scammers and people in need, all trying to reach his clients.—
Safiyah Riddle,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Southwest Airlines is tightening its refund policy for plus-size passengers who purchase an extra seat.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Texas lawmakers left Austin late Wednesday night without passing a THC ban or tightening restrictions on the booming industry.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The director was careful to avoid creating caricatures of religious figures.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
6 Sep. 2025
-
The same red flannel was often featured in caricatures of Mammy.—
Danielle Amir Jackson,
The Atlantic,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stretching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stretching. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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