1
as in expanses
a wide space or area
a narrow stretch of beach below the cliffs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in whiles
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 distances
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 exaggerates
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 lengthens
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 tries
to subject (a personal quality or faculty) to often excessive stress
your whining is stretching my patience to the limit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stretches
Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
Each session includes gentle stretches, calming breath work and mindful movement to help ease your pregnancy.
—Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026
West has been here before — early stretches of sobriety followed by devastating setbacks.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2026
Indeed, several key figures have missed large stretches of the campaign.
—Graham Ruthven, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026
The incident came less than a day after an Indonesian peacekeeper was killed in a separate explosion, marking one of the deadliest stretches for the mission since the conflict intensified along the Lebanese‑Israeli border.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Scientists say floodwater likely carried bones into the cave through sinkholes over vast stretches of time, which explains why the fossils appear smooth, rounded and mineral-stained.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2026
Don’t let one loss erase what was one of the most dominant stretches of basketball this program has ever seen.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026
Muddy floodwaters smothered vast stretches of Oahu’s North Shore, a community world-renowned for its big-wave surfing.
—Dallas Morning News, 22 Mar. 2026
Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Graves’ exit has sparked intense speculation about his potential successor to represent Missouri’s 6th Congressional District, which stretches across northern Missouri and touches Kansas City’s Northland.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2026
Bay Harbor consists of two islands hugging the Broad Causeway, which stretches just west of Bal Harbour to North Miami.
—Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
Federal officials shared the findings of their investigation as the war with Iran stretches over a month.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
The mountain sits at the top of the Diablo Range, which stretches more than 200 miles from Contra Costa to Kern counties.
—Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026
Council District 4 stretches from the San Fernando Valley to the Santa Monica Mountains covering the communities of Hancock Park, Hollywood Hills, Los Feliz and Sherman Oaks.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
Michigan and Illinois winning Saturday would deliver a rematch of the 1989 Wolverines-Illini Final Four classic and ensure an end to the Big Ten’s title drought, which stretches back to Michigan State winning it all in 2000 in Indy.
—Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026
Transportation Security Administration officers are nearing a breaking point as a weeks-long partial government shutdown stretches on, threatening airport operations in North Texas and leaving workers without pay, union leaders say.
—Marvin Hurst, CBS News, 25 Mar. 2026
Noun
Brown and White returned to the lineup, but both struggled for long stretches as Boston fell to 50-25.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
Each session includes gentle stretches, calming breath work and mindful movement to help ease your pregnancy.
—Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026
West has been here before — early stretches of sobriety followed by devastating setbacks.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2026
Indeed, several key figures have missed large stretches of the campaign.
—Graham Ruthven, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026
The incident came less than a day after an Indonesian peacekeeper was killed in a separate explosion, marking one of the deadliest stretches for the mission since the conflict intensified along the Lebanese‑Israeli border.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Scientists say floodwater likely carried bones into the cave through sinkholes over vast stretches of time, which explains why the fossils appear smooth, rounded and mineral-stained.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2026
Don’t let one loss erase what was one of the most dominant stretches of basketball this program has ever seen.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026
Muddy floodwaters smothered vast stretches of Oahu’s North Shore, a community world-renowned for its big-wave surfing.
—Dallas Morning News, 22 Mar. 2026
Verb
Another is expected to take shape in Councilmember Rick Jennings’ district, which stretches from Land Park to the Pocket.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Graves’ exit has sparked intense speculation about his potential successor to represent Missouri’s 6th Congressional District, which stretches across northern Missouri and touches Kansas City’s Northland.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2026
Bay Harbor consists of two islands hugging the Broad Causeway, which stretches just west of Bal Harbour to North Miami.
—Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
Federal officials shared the findings of their investigation as the war with Iran stretches over a month.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
The mountain sits at the top of the Diablo Range, which stretches more than 200 miles from Contra Costa to Kern counties.
—Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026
Council District 4 stretches from the San Fernando Valley to the Santa Monica Mountains covering the communities of Hancock Park, Hollywood Hills, Los Feliz and Sherman Oaks.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
Michigan and Illinois winning Saturday would deliver a rematch of the 1989 Wolverines-Illini Final Four classic and ensure an end to the Big Ten’s title drought, which stretches back to Michigan State winning it all in 2000 in Indy.
—Joe Rexrode, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026
Transportation Security Administration officers are nearing a breaking point as a weeks-long partial government shutdown stretches on, threatening airport operations in North Texas and leaving workers without pay, union leaders say.
—Marvin Hurst, CBS News, 25 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretches
Noun
-
The world’s continents are fringed by vast expanses of sand and mud.—
David George Haskell,
Big Think,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Driving east on Route 80 toward the Meta site in Holly Ridge, an unincorporated rural community about 15 minutes east of Rayville—the landscape is defined by flat expanses of soybean and cotton fields, punctuated by grain silos, grazing cows, and the occasional tractor.—
Sharon Goldman,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
UCHealth’s decision to postpone surgeries whiles staff addressed the sterilization problem stands out from other hospitals that have found themselves in similar situations.—
Jessica Seaman,
Denver Post,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The pros and cons of fiber-optic guidance Ukrainian forces have pushed standard FPV drones to ranges of 50 to 60 kilometers by integrating Starlink links, relay drones, and mothership launch platforms.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Mar. 2026
-
SoFi rate ranges are current as of 3/12/26 and are subject to change at any time.—
Ryley Amond,
CNBC,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
These clouds can sweep particles — including fungal spores — across large distances, increasing the risk of inhalation.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
30 Mar. 2026
-
This improves aerodynamic efficiency and allows the aircraft to cover greater distances.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The same prime minister who exaggerates his power is also fine with being portrayed as the patsy of more influential actors.—
Aluf Benn,
Foreign Affairs,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Tainy’s Prometheus — is portrayed by Feid, dressed in an oversized leather coat and lit in a manner that exaggerates his grills in an eerie way.—
Juan J. Arroyo,
Rolling Stone,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But in Bait — where Ahmed pulls triple duty as creator, executive producer, and star — much of Shah’s story comes from specific aspects of Ahmed’s life, making the series perhaps his most personal project to date.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
27 Mar. 2026
-
But what appears to be a dream opportunity unravels as JP pulls Tyler into a violent downward spiral.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The slim toe lengthens the leg, while the open heel keeps the outfit from looking heavy.—
Alex Sales,
Glamour,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Not to mention climate change, which lengthens growing seasons and increases pollen production.—
Tiffany Acosta,
AZCentral.com,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
That took me at least 10 tries.—
Nina Moskowitz,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
28 Mar. 2026
-
An engineer living in Tehran tries to find a pattern in strikes – are certain times safer?—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stretches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stretches. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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