protracted 1 of 2

past tense of protract

protracted

2 of 2

adjective

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for protracted
Adjective
  • That being said, this might be the one Philadelphia roster that can absorb a prolonged Embiid absence during the regular season, should the big man continue to miss chunks of games.
    Tony Jones, New York Times, 12 July 2025
  • Floodwaters can be contaminated with debris, as well as high levels of bacteria, chemicals, waste and other pollutants, which can cause prolonged health risks, the experts said.
    ByMary Kekatos, ABC News, 11 July 2025
Verb
  • This policy appears to have extended to interactions with the press as well.
    Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025
  • There, organizers counted 6,000 peaceful protesters who filled the State Street Bridge over the Fox River and extended for several blocks in either direction.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • He was told to sit on his bunk for the count, an interminable process that involved tallying every prisoner on the farm, from the men locked down in solitary cells to those wrangling cattle in far‑flung fields.
    Literary Hub July 8, Literary Hub, 8 July 2025
  • Advertisement Advertisement After two interminable episodes, a bombshell resets the show, eliminating some of its worst excesses and contextualizing others.
    Judy Berman, Time, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • Pontiac’s Firebird had a longish life in car years, with four generations spanning 1967 to 2002.
    Robert Ross, Robb Report, 27 June 2025
  • Word to the wise: the end credits are more like a Marvel movie as they are interrupted by a longish extra scene that includes a special cast member, blues legend Buddy Guy, plus yet another musical number at the end of credits.
    Pete Hammond, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Instead of service being needed every 3,000 miles, it is expected to be increased to a range of 15,000 to 20,000 miles.
    Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025
  • The case occurred in a trial that quickly increased the dose of the pill over a short period of time, the spokesperson said.
    Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • That's not inherently a bad choice, but in this instance the overarching story feels both overlong and underwhelming as tiny pieces of the narrative are introduced without being fully explained.
    Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025
  • And Dorian, despite the visual inventiveness on display, does go a bit overboard and overlong at times, particularly in a late, extended scene that makes use of pre-recorded outdoor footage that allows more than one Snook to race through a forest.
    Greg Evans, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Many prominent men across sports, music, business and politics have opened up about their mental health struggles, helping to chip away at the persistent stigma that discourages men from seeking help.
    Sreedhar Potarazu, Baltimore Sun, 6 July 2025
  • This suggested that the persistent activity of PKMζ is required to maintain a memory.
    Ajdina Halilovic, Wired News, 6 July 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Protracted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protracted. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

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