by any/no stretch of the imagination

idiom

used to emphasize that something is not true, does not happen, etc.
They're not wealthy by any stretch of the imagination.
By no stretch of the imagination does the factory operate efficiently.

Examples of by any/no stretch of the imagination in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The movie isn’t good by any stretch of the imagination. Tim Grierson, Vulture, 11 July 2025 This is not isolationism by any stretch of the imagination. Sonam Sheth, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025 But by no stretch of the imagination is this Missouri team a completely different roster than last year. Andrew Greif, NBC News, 16 Mar. 2025 Teams like Providence, Villanova, Syracuse, BC (Boston College) and Saint John’s were good teams back then, but none of them were national players by any stretch of the imagination in the national landscape. Emile Nuh, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for by any/no stretch of the imagination

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“By any/no stretch of the imagination.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/by%20any%2Fno%20stretch%20of%20the%20imagination. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!