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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of stretch
Monique John, CBS News, 26 May 2026
While the mill showed herringbone denim with a camouflage-print back and a stretch denim with a leopard-print back, the rep said most brands choose to customize their prints.
—Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 26 May 2026
Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 27 May 2026
At the same time, the scale of the war has stretched forensic resources thin, with nearly 100,000 Ukrainians missing or unidentified since 2014.
—Sara Huston, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026
Thomas Black, Twin Cities, 23 Apr. 2026
The senior wide receiver led the Bruins out of stretch lines and took a more vocal approach to practice.
—Gabriel Duarte, Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stretch
Noun
That—and the high temperatures—led to low oxygen levels in the water, suffocating and killing fish across a 20-mile stretch.
—Monique John, CBS News, 26 May 2026
While the mill showed herringbone denim with a camouflage-print back and a stretch denim with a leopard-print back, the rep said most brands choose to customize their prints.
—Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 26 May 2026
Verb
Beyond the big headline lots and estates, the market is sensible, with collectors willing to spend the right price for the right work but not stretch beyond that.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 27 May 2026
At the same time, the scale of the war has stretched forensic resources thin, with nearly 100,000 Ukrainians missing or unidentified since 2014.
—Sara Huston, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026
Adjective
The situation is also an opportunity for NASA to resume the kind of risk-taking that has been lacking to shake the agency out of a post-space-shuttle lethargy and to reignite passions for reaching a stretch goal under deadline pressure.
—Thomas Black, Twin Cities, 23 Apr. 2026
The senior wide receiver led the Bruins out of stretch lines and took a more vocal approach to practice.
—Gabriel Duarte, Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stretch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretch
Noun
-
Even Shea Theodore, technically, was acquired via trade, with the Golden Knights agreeing to select Clayton Stoner’s onerous contract from the Ducks in the expansion draft as the cost of acquisition.—
Thomas Drance,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
-
Suzuki went on to establish Seven & i Holdings in 2005 and oversaw its expansion into a retail conglomerate.—
Reuters 20 hr ago,
CNN Money,
25 May 2026
Noun
-
Drone plans developed by NASA suggest the space agency is particularly interested in Arsia Mons, a shield volcano in Mars' Tharsis region, which includes the largest volcanoes in the solar system, such as Olympus Mons — almost three times as high as Mount Everest.—
Tom Brown,
Space.com,
25 May 2026
-
Even so, the rooms remain an appealing choice for travelers who prioritize space.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 May 2026
Noun
-
Many of the proposals tested in the survey—barring companies that receive tax benefits from laying off workers, capping prescription-drug costs, eliminating taxes on Social Security income—drew strong support across the political spectrum.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
23 May 2026
-
Recommended by The Skin Cancer Foundation, the Colorscience Total Protection Brush-On Shield is a powder, paraben-free and freagrance-free formulation, designed with broad spectrum SPF 50 that’s water- and sweat-resistant for 80 minutes.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
23 May 2026
Noun
-
These algorithms factor in variables such as a base rate, distance, tolls, surcharges, surge multipliers, booking fees, route adjustments, promotions, time of day, and even the behavior of individual workers and consumers.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 May 2026
-
Rayo exerted some pressure but were largely restricted to shots from distance.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
That being said, this information is coming from Sarah, who might be motivated to exaggerate Nikki’s lack of interest.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
-
Apple just settled a class-action lawsuit for exaggerating the AI capabilities of its newest iPhones.—
Vitaliy Katsenelson,
Fortune,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
These Ewedoos trousers are for anyone who wants to look pulled together without dealing with stiff waistbands or restrictive fabrics.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
24 May 2026
-
The other girl’s hair was pulled.—
Debra Newman Kamin,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
Hormones grow the helpless newborn into a rough-and-tumble toddler who gains height through the hormones that lengthen the bones.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
-
To begin the response this belatedly only lengthens the road to resolution.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
Truman Capote noted that one of Marilyn’s overriding features was her desire to try and please everyone.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 May 2026
-
Cavs owner Dan Gilbert tried borrowing the Philadelphia blueprint by limiting ticket sales to Ohio residents through geolocation restrictions, just like the Sixers attempted in Round 2.—
Kristian Winfield,
Sun Sentinel,
25 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stretch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stretch. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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