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
Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026
He was forced off in the 59th minute against Palace after over-stretching to reach a pass from Dominik Szoboszlai.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2026
Day sessions usually include something energizing like yoga or mat Pilates, while evenings offer stretching and meditation.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Apr. 2026
Actor and producer Vidyut Jammwal will play the noble — and limb-stretching — Dhalsim in the upcoming Street Fighter adaptation.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026
Struck said his company is working on about two-thirds of the section of I-35E stretching from West Seventh Street to Grand Avenue, getting rid of tree stumps, dead and dying shrubs, buckthorn and nine red trellises.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 24 Apr. 2026
To keep the parts from breaking, researchers are fine-tuning the metal to withstand constant stretching and squeezing.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Apr. 2026
That said, gentle stretching and other movement in the morning can help alleviate discomfort.
—Kristen Fischer, Health, 17 Apr. 2026
When washed improperly, knitted fabrics can permanently lose their shape due to shrinking, stretching, and pilling.
—Katelyn Squiers, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Apr. 2026
Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 7 May 2026
Meteor showers occur on a predictable schedule each year, with some lasting for mere days and others stretching on for weeks.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 7 May 2026
Typically, those reviews have been resolved quickly, but standard times started stretching longer starting around August 2025, the association said.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 7 May 2026
The setting had simply always been part of my life, pieces of it stretching into every corner of my mind like taffy.
—Literary Hub, 7 May 2026
The flaws in that formula have begun to pop up over the last week with a couple of rough outings from starters and another one (lefty Brandon Williamson) hitting the IL, stretching what was seen as a deep pitching staff in spring to the brink.
—Chad Jennings, New York Times, 6 May 2026
When pain or other problems linger, despite stretching or other fascia release methods, see a doctor, Kanjiya says.
—Scott Haak, EverydayHealth.com, 6 May 2026
For a century, the 2,448 mile road stretching across eight states and three time zones has been synonymous with mom-and-pop diners and America’s Heartland.
—Audrey Pachuta, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
The modern American fair has roots stretching back more than two centuries, but the Midwest has made the format its own — turning agricultural exhibitions into massive entertainment events that define summers across the heartland.
—Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
Noun
Each session is one hour and 30 minutes long, with 10 minutes for stretching and one hour and 20 minutes to learn the choreography.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026
He was forced off in the 59th minute against Palace after over-stretching to reach a pass from Dominik Szoboszlai.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2026
Day sessions usually include something energizing like yoga or mat Pilates, while evenings offer stretching and meditation.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Apr. 2026
Actor and producer Vidyut Jammwal will play the noble — and limb-stretching — Dhalsim in the upcoming Street Fighter adaptation.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026
Struck said his company is working on about two-thirds of the section of I-35E stretching from West Seventh Street to Grand Avenue, getting rid of tree stumps, dead and dying shrubs, buckthorn and nine red trellises.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 24 Apr. 2026
To keep the parts from breaking, researchers are fine-tuning the metal to withstand constant stretching and squeezing.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Apr. 2026
That said, gentle stretching and other movement in the morning can help alleviate discomfort.
—Kristen Fischer, Health, 17 Apr. 2026
When washed improperly, knitted fabrics can permanently lose their shape due to shrinking, stretching, and pilling.
—Katelyn Squiers, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Apr. 2026
Verb
The Moon in Capricorn moves through your 3rd House, opposing Jupiter in your 9th, stretching the gap between details and interpretation.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 7 May 2026
Meteor showers occur on a predictable schedule each year, with some lasting for mere days and others stretching on for weeks.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 7 May 2026
Typically, those reviews have been resolved quickly, but standard times started stretching longer starting around August 2025, the association said.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 7 May 2026
The setting had simply always been part of my life, pieces of it stretching into every corner of my mind like taffy.
—Literary Hub, 7 May 2026
The flaws in that formula have begun to pop up over the last week with a couple of rough outings from starters and another one (lefty Brandon Williamson) hitting the IL, stretching what was seen as a deep pitching staff in spring to the brink.
—Chad Jennings, New York Times, 6 May 2026
When pain or other problems linger, despite stretching or other fascia release methods, see a doctor, Kanjiya says.
—Scott Haak, EverydayHealth.com, 6 May 2026
For a century, the 2,448 mile road stretching across eight states and three time zones has been synonymous with mom-and-pop diners and America’s Heartland.
—Audrey Pachuta, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
The modern American fair has roots stretching back more than two centuries, but the Midwest has made the format its own — turning agricultural exhibitions into massive entertainment events that define summers across the heartland.
—Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretching
Noun
-
The Vikings signed Van Ginkel to a two-year, $20 million contract during free agency in 2024 and tacked on a one-year, $23 million extension last offseason.—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
-
Simison noted that the Idaho 16 extension and improvements on Linder Road are expected to alleviate congestion on Ten Mile Road.—
Rose Evans
Updated May 6,
Idaho Statesman,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
And no, that isn’t an exaggeration.—
Rod Stafford Hagwood,
Sun Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Even referring to it as a national convention was an exaggeration, since any Stanley get‑together in Dallas would have been a regional rally with, at most, a few hundred salespeople.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The league decided to introduce postgame flop fines in the 2012-13 season where plays were reviewed after games and those individuals were fined for exaggerating contact.—
Jon Root OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
-
Flopping and exaggerating contact is different.—
Matt Schooley,
CBS News,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
The Moon in Sagittarius moves through your 9th House of Perspective, pulling you toward bigger plans and bold ideas that feel exciting.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
4 May 2026
-
Police tried pulling him over around the area of Beverly and San Vicente boulevards, a major intersection adjacent to the Beverly Center shopping mall and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
This lengthening effect happens all the time for all sorts of waves, not just light.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
1 May 2026
-
Regrading your property, cleaning overflowing gutters, and lengthening downspouts to direct water away from the house can help.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Offensive surge results in a 15-2 rout of the visiting Twins as Washington gets contributions from several players trying to secure their roster spots.—
Danielle Allentuck,
Washington Post,
7 May 2026
-
Tasks, messages, or requests may stack up quickly, but trying to handle everything at once will slow you down.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
American Airlines is tightening battery rules, requiring chargers to stay visible and accessible during flights.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Other interventions, like non-surgical or surgical skin tightening procedures, can be helpful complements, too.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Sacramento City Unified School District is looking to change a high school mascot which depicts a racial caricature that is offensive to the Indigenous community.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
1 May 2026
-
For kids, there will be a mobile video game truck, skills and drills stations, inflatables, balloon and caricature artist and a face painter.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stretching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stretching. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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