stretch 1 of 3

stretch

2 of 3

verb

1
as in to exaggerate
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to pull
to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure I stretched a back muscle, and the pain is killing me

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3
as in to lengthen
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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4
5
as in to tighten
to draw tight if the canvas isn't properly stretched over the frame, there will be sagging over time

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

stretch

3 of 3

adjective

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 stretch
Noun
During a recent visit to the site of the leak — a half-block stretch of Bruner Ave. Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2025 Throughout the video, recurring images of exotic flowers interrupt long stretches of darkness. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 31 Mar. 2025
Verb
That Add Value To The Certificate Program Assignments should stretch learners and not just restate the material. Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025 Because your stomach stretches, moves, and flexes more than other areas, Ellis notes, navel piercings can be more prone to irritation than other piercings and can have a longer healing process. Marianne Mychaskiw, Allure, 9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
A lot of jeans are made with a bit of elastane to give it stretch, but that will just not give you this kind of fit and drape. Aamina Inayat Khan, StyleCaster, 10 Feb. 2025 More inventive styles like the Nela, a second-skin knee-high boot featuring stretch leather and a harness detail that wraps around the ankle, only go up to 11. Mikelle Street, Them, 26 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for stretch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretch
Noun
  • This is especially true with Mars — your traditional ruler — journeying through Cancer and your ninth house of travel, expansion and unknown territory.
    Valerie Mesa, People.com, 5 Apr. 2025
  • As more brands incorporate AI into streamlining production efficiency, the company’s expansion comes as demand rises for personalized marketing content across digital platforms.
    Chris Gallagher, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • But breaking into this space requires a strategic approach and a willingness to redefine traditional leadership.
    Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Colliers listed it as an investment property, with a net operating income of nearly $234,000 and over 16,000 square feet of rentable space.
    Nick Rosenberger, Idaho Statesman, 2 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • In the Kansas City metro, police departments at the other end of the spectrum continue to allow for pursuits in most circumstances.
    Bill Lukitsch, Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2025
  • There are many situations and conditions within the health spectrum.
    Sharron van der Meulen, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Resistant to technology that can read credit card information from a distance, the new Nordstrom arrival is more than just a safety measure.
    Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 10 Apr. 2025
  • In his annual pre-Masters press conference, Ridley pointed out that the R&A and USGA have been working on the distance issue for two years.
    Bob Spear, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The implication is that the non-college population makes nothing, an assumption that dramatically exaggerates the college payoff.
    Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Rhodes further retorted with a crude remark about Cena's microphone skills versus his physical attributes, and cautioned him against exaggerating his positive impact on WWE upon his departure.
    Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Brands began to pull together resources to support refugees.
    Stephan Rabimov, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023
  • The 13-minute performance will likely call for a healthy dose of vibrant, colored lighting to pull it all together.
    Kelly Allen, House Beautiful, 10 Feb. 2023
Verb
  • The Mocs lengthened that to 10 with 7:33 remaining.
    Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2025
  • But, again, holding onto this frustration may only lengthen the process.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Moving forward, is Levantine trying to lean more into commercially viable projects or awards films?
    Matt Minton, Variety, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Israel's Syria Incursion: Syria accused Israel of trying to destabilize the country after intense airstrikes on military bases and a deadly raid in southern Syria.
    Farnaz Fassihi, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Stretch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stretch. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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