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
Cardoso’s paintings are littered with artifacts to L.A.’s past and present: Mission Road, King Taco, LAX, wide stretches of the 101. Jason Parham, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2025 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will rightly be the major talking point from the blowout, capping a sublime three-game stretch in this series with a brilliant closeout performance. Shane Young, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
Verb
The Longhorns tacked on three more runs in the inning to stretch the advantage to 9-0. Kavan (23-4) went the distance, giving up six hits in seven innings with a walk and 5 strikeouts. Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 May 2025 Her late explosion was too much to come back from as the lead stretched to double digits again. Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 17 May 2025
Adjective
The reality is, high performers thrive on stretch goals. Mark Murphy, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025 Each yoga pose, stretch, or walk to the laundry room will get her even further toward her fitness goals. Brie Schwartz, Glamour, 22 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stretch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretch
Noun
  • The legislation would implement work requirements for adults enrolled in Medicaid expansion and increase the frequency of eligibility checks to ensure people still qualify for the program.
    Riley Beggin, USA Today, 23 May 2025
  • But Italian beef, the quintessential Chicago sandwich, remains at the top of the Buona menu — and its expansion plans.
    Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • Why a big worry still looms A CT city's glut of office space is being converted into apartments.
    Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 20 May 2025
  • Bela Vista Hotel & Spa, Portimão, Algarve A grand 19th-century building houses the main spaces of the beguiling Bela Vista Hotel, and its historical details—especially in the bar—add considerably to its appeal.
    Ann Abel, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
Noun
  • At the opposite spectrum of the sombre tone and palette of Ritual of the Ancestors and Rites of Passage are a pair of sensual canvases titled Adoration of the Earth which depict a naked woman languishing in a field of dancing sunflowers.
    Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
  • Consumers should use a sunscreen labelled SPF 30 or higher with broad spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays.
    Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • Flowers kept his distance the following summer and got a job at Charlestown Senior Living in Catonsville.
    Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 29 May 2025
  • Keep clear of puddles - Driving through puddles or low rainwater areas can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of control Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 29 May 2025
Verb
  • In high-stakes projects, leaders may downplay their employees’ efforts and exaggerate their mistakes.
    Esade Business & Law School, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
  • Kehinde’s lawyer argued that the girl lied or exaggerated many of her claims.
    Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 21 May 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
  • Their work emphasizes that with lengthening lifespans, Americans will face multiple career transitions and need continual skill renewal.
    Alison Griffin, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
  • Listen to this article CARLSBAD — Dianna Lee settled over a 4-foot put on the 18th green in the lengthening shadows Wednesday evening at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa’s North Course.
    Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 May 2025
Verb
  • Two years later, he was tried again and found guilty of felony murder and second-degree kidnapping.
    Emily Blackwood, People.com, 24 May 2025
  • Carmichael is content to share his personal shame while exposing the social ills that have also tried to stop him from being his true self.
    Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 23 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Stretch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stretch. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.

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