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
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
Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 10 Sep. 2025
Both groups showed less shrinkage than expected from previous research, possibly because even balance and stretching produces brain benefits.
—New Atlas, 6 Sep. 2025
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
Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 14 Sep. 2025
The Grand Teton Pathway passes through the park, stretching from Jackson to Antelope Flats Road.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 14 Sep. 2025
The Rangers have won 17 of their past 24, a feisty bunch of Little Rascals piled on each other’s shoulders, stretching to reach the American League playoffs.
—Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
The experience offers sweeping views of Tivoli Gardens, the spires of the historic center and the Øresund Bridge stretching toward Sweden.
—David Nikel, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
From open to close on its first day in business, Tai Pan Bakery & Dim Sum was packed with a line stretching out the door.
—Sacbee.com, 12 Sep. 2025
And there will be a pretty sweet view along with the Tuscan-style cuisine, too, with waterfront vistas stretching across the Bay from the full weatherized and heated patio.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 12 Sep. 2025
The views are spectacular, stretching across the Blue Ridge, and the park is a haven for rare plants and wildlife.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 12 Sep. 2025
Police tape stretching across a road in front of a crime scene.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
Noun
Generally, the day begins with stretching and a light lift in the weight room.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 10 Sep. 2025
Both groups showed less shrinkage than expected from previous research, possibly because even balance and stretching produces brain benefits.
—New Atlas, 6 Sep. 2025
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
Verb
When tested, the team found that the new material is extremely stretchy, able to safely handle ~4600% strain (like stretching 1 cm of gel to 46 cm without breaking).
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 14 Sep. 2025
The Grand Teton Pathway passes through the park, stretching from Jackson to Antelope Flats Road.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 14 Sep. 2025
The Rangers have won 17 of their past 24, a feisty bunch of Little Rascals piled on each other’s shoulders, stretching to reach the American League playoffs.
—Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
The experience offers sweeping views of Tivoli Gardens, the spires of the historic center and the Øresund Bridge stretching toward Sweden.
—David Nikel, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
From open to close on its first day in business, Tai Pan Bakery & Dim Sum was packed with a line stretching out the door.
—Sacbee.com, 12 Sep. 2025
And there will be a pretty sweet view along with the Tuscan-style cuisine, too, with waterfront vistas stretching across the Bay from the full weatherized and heated patio.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 12 Sep. 2025
The views are spectacular, stretching across the Blue Ridge, and the park is a haven for rare plants and wildlife.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 12 Sep. 2025
Police tape stretching across a road in front of a crime scene.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretching
Noun
-
Biden and, by extension, Harris will be remembered even and perhaps especially by Democrats as symbolizing disappointment and defeat.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
-
That’s an extension of the moto culture the Dream Rides owner has built; every member of his immediate family rides custom motorcycles, including his wife, son, daughter, brother, sister, brother-in-law, and more.—
Kristin Shaw,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
But to say — as some Panthers fans are doing these days — that he should immediately be traded or is a complete draft bust is an over-exaggeration.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Despite the mess in her apartment, the man, like everyone else in her life, brushes off her fears as the exaggerations of an overactive imagination.—
Marya E. Gates,
IndieWire,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Roman wondered, perhaps exaggerating the growth and maturity of Alt over the past 12 months.—
Elliott Teaford,
Oc Register,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Bronstein says the lines between reality and what appears to be reality are blurred as bragging spills over to personal lives and work, projecting, exaggerating and competing for attention.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
All major indexes dipped slightly Tuesday, with tech shares such as Nvidia and Microsoft pulling back.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Good Times Oakland is pulling from a deep well of retail bottles, and has a bar for the public to sip and sup.—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The line made other minor tweaks as well, such as redesigning its central Roundabout area to offer more indoor lounge space and lengthening the main pool.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
-
And the time required to develop new mines is, if anything, lengthening.—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Every day brings a new word, and everyone around the world is trying to solve the same puzzle.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Young committed to trying to help the deployment strengthen the community without distracting from ongoing law enforcement efforts.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
They are favored to win the governor’s races in Virginia and New Jersey, though the former appears to be tightening.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The tightening polls also came after Cornyn leaned into the Texas redistricting fight, garnering attention for calling on the FBI to help bring back Democrats who had fled the state in protest against efforts to redraw the maps.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The characters are turning into caricatures — especially Martin Short’s Oliver Putnam.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Easy isn’t a caricature, even if the people and events around him increasingly feel that way.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
12 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stretching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stretching. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share