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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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
After allowing nearly 86 points per game during a seven-game losing streak, the Knights have toughened up on defense, allowing 76.8 during the recent four-game stretch. Matt Murschel, Orlando Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2025 Sunland Park, New Mexico — On a recent afternoon, CBS News accompanied U.S. Border Patrol agent Claudio Herrera along this rugged stretch of the U.S. southern border. Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2025
Verb
Expand The 11-player Benedictine University flag football team sat in a stretching circle just outside the walled turf field at Naperville Yard indoor sports complex on Feb. 28. Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2025 No ‘categorical right’ The Supreme Court ruled in 2023 that the PBA stretched Marsy’s Law too far. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
The soft and smooth texture of the material is meant to combine with a stretch mesh material wrapping the graphite within the grip to improve vibration dampening by 5.8%. Tim Newcomb, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024 Make the goals reasonably outsized and be aspirational so that they are considered stretch goals. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stretch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretch
Noun
  • Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump is calling for the expansion of crisis intervention programs as new data shows police killings hit a record high in 2024 — despite a national decline in violent crime.
    Delano Massey, Axios, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Mining and refining minerals is highly energy-intensive, meaning that any expansion of production will require massive investments in rebuilding power infrastructure.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Exceptional millwork around the fireplace and mantle, plus crown molding, add elegance to this space.
    James Alexander, Hartford Courant, 9 Mar. 2025
  • By replicating real-world crisis scenarios, these simulations give responders a low-risk space to practice decision-making, communication, and emotional regulation.
    Edward Segal, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Designed by Audio Pro, this modestly sized speaker has a dedicated woofer and Balanced Mode Radiator driver for a detailed sound across the entire frequency spectrum with a variety of musical genres.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Many of us learned to trade authenticity for survival — adapting to families, cultures, or relationships that couldn’t hold the full spectrum of our emotions.
    Colin Bedell, Them, 28 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • 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.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacramento Bee, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Raffael Cerqueira via knockout at 2:12 of Round 1 (Punches to head at distance) UFC Seattle took place at Climate Pledge Arena.
    Trent Reinsmith, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Distorted and exaggerated by Weegee’s hand—with grins set in a chilling rictus, or eyes and noses spread wide and pancaked—these idols became monsters.
    Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 22 Feb. 2025
  • Moral panics are created when politicians exaggerate a public concern to manipulate real fears people may have.
    Brittany Friedman, The Conversation, 21 Feb. 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
  • For Carpenter, the dress was lengthened to incorporate an elegant and dramatic train.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 2 Mar. 2025
  • Their normal top-flight shot-distance average is from 15 metres but against Liverpool, that lengthens to 17.6m, which reduces the likelihood of scoring.
    Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Abou Sangaré was the first winner of the night, winning Best Male Revelation for his breakout role in Souleymane’s Story as an African immigrant trying to survive in the mean streets of Paris.
    Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Baron criticized the use of heavily armed federal agents for such cases, arguing that resources should be focused on criminals and public threats rather than individuals trying to adjust their status legally.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Stretch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stretch. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

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