1
as in expansion
a wide space or area
a narrow stretch of beach below the cliffs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in space
an indefinite but usually short period of time
there was a cardinal at our bird feeder for a short stretch last spring
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3
4
as in distance
the space or amount of space between two points, lines, surfaces, or objects
the longest stretch of the drive without any place to get gas
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to try
to subject (a personal quality or faculty) to often excessive stress
your whining is stretching my patience to the limit
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in flexible
able to revert to original size and shape after being stretched, squeezed, or twisted
stretch fabrics that don't wrinkle or sag
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of stretch
Kelly Bastone, Outside Online, 4 Nov. 2024
Their move in the election’s home stretch isn’t likely to spark any near-term government action, especially not if Republicans regain the White House.
—Alexandra Byrne, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2024
Lawrence Andrea, Journal Sentinel, 5 Nov. 2024
District 1, which stretches from Tempe to Queen Creek, leans conservative.
—Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 7 Sep. 2024
This cycle is best for fragile fabrics or laundry pieces that may start to melt, fray, stretch, or fade in high-heat conditions.
—Shivani Vyas, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stretch 
Noun
Its breathability is excellent, and that moisture control—along with the unfettered feel of four-way stretch fabric and articulated seams that allow the arms to move freely—made the Proton Hybrid testers’ favorite midlayer for sweat-producing adventures.
—Kelly Bastone, Outside Online, 4 Nov. 2024
Their move in the election’s home stretch isn’t likely to spark any near-term government action, especially not if Republicans regain the White House.
—Alexandra Byrne, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
The seat, stretching from Rock County to Kenosha County and up to the southern Milwaukee area, remains slightly redder than the state as a whole.
—Lawrence Andrea, Journal Sentinel, 5 Nov. 2024
District 1, which stretches from Tempe to Queen Creek, leans conservative.
—Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Be sure to lean into wide-leg and looser cuts, whether that be cropped or full-length, in these comfortable, stretch fabrics, to take you straight into the new season in a fresh way.
—Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 7 Sep. 2024
This cycle is best for fragile fabrics or laundry pieces that may start to melt, fray, stretch, or fade in high-heat conditions.
—Shivani Vyas, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for stretch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretch
Noun
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Over the past five years, California’s economy ranked 13th-best for the expansion of its gross domestic product – the broadest measurement of business output.Jonathan Lansner, Orange County Register, 14 Nov. 2024
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Disney's capital expenditures totaled $5.4 billion, primarily for theme park expansions and new attractions.Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The company continues to focus on expanding its space infrastructure and services.Quartz Bot, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024
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Tilting this model is easier than BioLite’s 425 headlamp thanks to a space between the band and light housing to hook your finger into.Ashley Thess, Outdoor Life, 14 Nov. 2024
Noun
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And who’s at the other end of this migration metric’s spectrum?Jonathan Lansner, Orange County Register, 11 Nov. 2024
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Asking for feedback and giving feedback at work can bring up a spectrum of feelings spanning from only slightly uncomfortable to utterly petrified.Cicely Simpson, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Because of Jupiter’s distance from Earth, the probe won’t arrive until April 2030.Benjamin Roulston, Discover Magazine, 7 Nov. 2024
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It’s often called Planet X or Planet Nine. Objects in the Kuiper Belt are hard to see and study because of their distance from the sun.Jacopo Prisco, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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The sapphire hues in the Voyager 2 mission photos were exaggerated by image processing to showcase the swirling cloud patterns more prominently.Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Nov. 2024
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It's widely believed that Blanchard was a victim of Munchausen syndrome by proxy; a rare form of abuse in which a guardian exaggerates or induces illness in a child for sympathy and attention.Becca Longmire, People.com, 16 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Brands began to pull together resources to support refugees.Stephan Rabimov, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023
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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
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In the air, the 6.9-foot-wide (2.1-m) wing increases lift and improves glide with the intent of lengthening the overall flight distance and time in the air.New Atlas, New Atlas, 5 Nov. 2024
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Easter cactus, for example, begins blooming when days lengthen in early spring.Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Oct. 2024
Verb
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The 49ers were working to try to get ahead of the story.Grace Hase, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024
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Beth Smith lives and runs in Burlingame, California, and runs roads and trails while trying to not get Prednisone-level poison oak rashes.Lisa Jhung, Outside Online, 15 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Stretch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stretch. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.
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