STRETCHING Synonyms: 140 Similar and Opposite Words

stretching 1 of 2

noun

as in extension

the act of making longer excessive stretching can cause the fabric to tear or lose its elasticity

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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

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stretching

2 of 2

verb

present participle of stretch

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

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as in pulling

to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure I stretched a back muscle, and the pain is killing me

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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

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as in trying

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 tightening

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 stretching

Noun

The newest campus parties trade the keg for wellness activities like group runs, cold plunges, HIIT, yoga, Pilates and stretching. — Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 17 Sep. 2026 Before the Rams went through stretching exercises, Donald sat on a red exercise ball, taking in the scene and focusing his thoughts for the workout ahead. — Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026 Two to 3 inches of rain are possible in a corridor stretching from the Great Lakes into southern New England, though confidence is low on how far east the rain will travel. — Tyler Ory, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026 For example, selecting a chair that encourages an upright posture can reduce pain and injury risk, especially when gamers couple ergonomics with an exercise program that centers on functional strength, mobility and stretching of the upper limbs. — Erica D. Henn, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2026 As long hours spent in the same position can contribute to poor posture, stiffness and other physical issues, experts say regular movement and stretching can help prevent joint pain and muscle weakness. — Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026 Moments later, the duo was back in all of its fantastic polka-dot glory, complete with those oversized masks, and doing some quick stretching/calisthenics to get ready for the show. — Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026 Haunted Mansion props on the parade floats will include the conservatory casket, cryptic gravestones, gargoyle candleholders, watchful busts, haunted armor and stretching room portraits. — Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 18 Aug. 2026 Regular movement, stretching, and strengthening exercises can help maintain joint mobility. — Rikkilynn Shields Hannigan, HEALTH, 17 Aug. 2026

Verb

Beth Israel was a flagship of American Judaism, its origins stretching back to 1844, when Texas was still an independent republic. — Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026 Standard assays for measuring plastic breakdown are exceptionally slow because solid PET plastic resists dissolution, stretching testing timelines across several days. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2026 Last spring, a violent storm with heavy hail was forecast, just as the crops surrounding our home, stretching for hundreds of kilometers, had begun to sprout their first buds and tender young leaves. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Sep. 2026 Galileo completed its primary mission in December 1997, with its mission extensions stretching its flight through 2003. — Tariq Malik, Space.com, 21 Sep. 2026 That's where stretching the truck well beyond its normal freight range could become useful. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026 Nails for stretching, versus staples, were commonly used prior to the mid-20th century. — Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2026 Congressional District—stretching across the Everglades from Broward County to Collier County—between Democratic contender Pia Dandiya and Republican nominee Casey Askar. — Miami Herald, 20 Sep. 2026 Peters recommends bringing indoor slippers as an alternative, and this lightweight pair is easy to slip on before stretching your legs or making a bathroom run. — Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 19 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretching

Noun

That said, the agreement appears to stop short of any concrete purchase commitment, and the two-month trade truce extension appears to be somewhat constrained compared to analysts’ pre-summit expectations of at least six months.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2026
Suspects arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 can be detained for up to 14 days without charge, compared to the 24-hour limit for standard arrests, without an extension application.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of extension

Noun

While that’s an exaggeration by Cole’s lofty standards, one thing is certain with the playoffs nearing.

— Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 19 Sep. 2026
The late Cincinnati Reds owner can be described as cheap, racist and antisemitic without fear of exaggeration.

— Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of exaggeration

Verb

Several attack ads on Talarico, launched by Republican political action committees, have focused on his past support for transgender youth and accused him of exaggerating his faith to garner the Christian vote.

— Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026
Accusers were exaggerating or lying outright in pursuit of a payday.

— Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of exaggerating

Verb

The key to pulling it off was close collaboration with his department heads and lead actor to make sure James’ arc was clearly mapped out, both visually and emotionally.

— Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 25 Sep. 2026
There were slides, there was a demo everyone loved, and then, a few quarters later, someone stopped pulling the usage numbers and the whole thing faded.

— Amirtha Saminathan, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of pulling

Verb

These movements take joints through active ranges of motion, lengthening and engaging muscles to support and control movement.

— Dana Santas, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2026
Valjean’s famous bread-theft-to-feed-his-starving-family here becomes a footchase/fight setpiece before he is caught and consigned to an ever-lengthening prison sentence.

— Jessica Kiang, Variety, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of lengthening

Verb

Right tackle Blake Frazier left the game in the third quarter, trying to keep weight off his right leg, and later returned to play.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Sep. 2026
Trump already faces opposition to the Iran war among many in his own Republican Party, but trying to find a face-saving way to end it quickly could anger allies, too.

— Robin Wright, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of trying

Verb

Wizman said yields at these levels are not themselves unusual, particularly because they are not being accompanied by extreme inflation expectations or an aggressively tightening Fed.

— Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 26 Sep. 2026
The recommendations include limiting the retention of data collected by license plate readers and other sources to seven days, further tightening the 21-day limit set in the new law.

— Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of tightening

Noun

Reducing Combs to a caricature of villainy alone would ignore the complexity that has long defined his influence.

— Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026
Last month, retailer Target pulled a children’s Halloween costume from its shelves after widespread social media backlash, apologizing for selling a garment that critics said evoked racist minstrel caricatures.

— Dave Collins, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026