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
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
The first happens in accordance with the Earth’s rotation, the second will be healed with stretching and Ibuprofen, and the third is simply a fact of life and the passage of time.
—Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 12 Apr. 2026
Warming up with light movement, such as walking or dynamic stretching, before a workout as well as cooling down afterward can help prepare muscles, improve flexibility and reduce soreness.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
Audrey Pachuta, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
Olivia Rodrigo has announced North American and European tour dates stretching from the fall into 2027.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 30 Apr. 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
Each class runs 1 hour and 30 minutes, with 10 minutes for stretching and 1 hour and 20 minutes to learn the choreography step-by-step.
—Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2026
Each class runs 1 hour and 30 minutes — 10 minutes for stretching and 1 hour and 20 minutes to learn the choreography step by step.
—Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Apr. 2026
Silk skirts are a staple of my travel wardrobe, taking up minimal suitcase space while stretching my outfit options.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 29 Apr. 2026
Reznik said while the San Gabriel River system and adjacent spreading grounds, stretching from Irwindale to Long Beach, work exceptionally well, capturing 90% of the local runoff that percolates into underground basins for later use, that’s not true of some other waterways in the county.
—Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 24 Apr. 2026
And then Mason Miller closed out his ninth save by stretching his scoreless streak to 33⅔ innings, tying the franchise record set 20 years ago by Cla Meredith.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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
The first happens in accordance with the Earth’s rotation, the second will be healed with stretching and Ibuprofen, and the third is simply a fact of life and the passage of time.
—Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 12 Apr. 2026
Warming up with light movement, such as walking or dynamic stretching, before a workout as well as cooling down afterward can help prepare muscles, improve flexibility and reduce soreness.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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
Olivia Rodrigo has announced North American and European tour dates stretching from the fall into 2027.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 30 Apr. 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
Each class runs 1 hour and 30 minutes, with 10 minutes for stretching and 1 hour and 20 minutes to learn the choreography step-by-step.
—Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2026
Each class runs 1 hour and 30 minutes — 10 minutes for stretching and 1 hour and 20 minutes to learn the choreography step by step.
—Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Apr. 2026
Silk skirts are a staple of my travel wardrobe, taking up minimal suitcase space while stretching my outfit options.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 29 Apr. 2026
Reznik said while the San Gabriel River system and adjacent spreading grounds, stretching from Irwindale to Long Beach, work exceptionally well, capturing 90% of the local runoff that percolates into underground basins for later use, that’s not true of some other waterways in the county.
—Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 24 Apr. 2026
And then Mason Miller closed out his ninth save by stretching his scoreless streak to 33⅔ innings, tying the franchise record set 20 years ago by Cla Meredith.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretching
Noun
-
Trump could also give himself a 30-day extension to continue operations.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
-
This extension of Josh's sentence comes at the same time that his fourth, and final, appeal of his 2021 conviction is working its way through the courts.—
Chris Spargo,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Williams, of course, worked at NBC for nearly three decades, including an 11-year run at NBC Nightly News that ended 2015 after exaggerations and falsehoods were found in some of his reporting, including reports from Iraq, and from New Orleans after it had been ravaged by Hurricane Katrina.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The novel reads, in retrospect, less like exaggeration than reportage from inside a culture already learning to treat life as publicity.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But in early 2024, a short seller accused it of exaggerating the role of artificial intelligence in its business model, leading to a class action lawsuit and a 30% drop in its share price.—
Perrie M. Weiner,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Iranian hackers boasted online of the hacks against Patel and the medical device maker while exaggerating their impact.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
All of which is great news for Adam Silver and everyone else pulling a paycheck from the league.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Seated calf raises can lower post-meal blood sugar spikes by gradually pulling glucose from the bloodstream.—
Mira Miller,
Verywell Health,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The same instinct shows up in the lifestyle creator influencer accent, characterized by uptalk and the lengthening and extra stressing on words.—
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Along with leg-lengthening jeans and walkable but cute footwear, one of the easiest items to add into your spring rotation is a basic button-up shirt.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Magic, meanwhile, played like a team trying to close out a series – close, competitive, but just a step behind in the details that matter most in the postseason.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The Dodgers, relative to other organizations, are aggressive in trying to improve the team, spending money on key free agents even after winning back-to-back World Series championships.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
30 Apr. 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
-
In another gallery, Joe Overstreet’s The New Jemima reimagines a racist caricature as a bold, satirical portrait of power, its bright colors dominating the quiet space.—
Carrie Honaker,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The other women in the friends’ lives — primarily their mothers — don’t fare much better and are reduced to near-caricatures.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stretching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stretching. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
