as in to lengthen
to make longer
the highway project was protracted by years of litigation
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Recent Examples of protract
The program was made possible with a fast-acting First Emergency Response grant from Education Cannot Wait (ECW), the global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises in the UN.
—
Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
President Nixon’s behavior caused grave tensions between the three branches of government, but the buildup was protracted and gradual.
—Mattathias Schwartz, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2025
The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) protracted and byzantine process for issuing Starship launch licenses to SpaceX, critical for Starship lunar lander development, is an example.
—John Kross, Space.com, 3 Feb. 2025
Lynch’s staging is, agonizingly at times, protracted.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 16 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for protract
Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
President Nixon’s behavior caused grave tensions between the three branches of government, but the buildup was protracted and gradual.
—Mattathias Schwartz, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2025
The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) protracted and byzantine process for issuing Starship launch licenses to SpaceX, critical for Starship lunar lander development, is an example.
—John Kross, Space.com, 3 Feb. 2025
Lynch’s staging is, agonizingly at times, protracted.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 16 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for protract
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protract
Verb
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For Carpenter, the dress was lengthened to incorporate an elegant and dramatic train.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
2 Mar. 2025
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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
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Congress faces a deadline Friday to extend funding for the federal government through the end of the fiscal year Sept. 30 or risk a partial shutdown.—
Joey Garrison,
USA TODAY,
9 Mar. 2025
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The victory extended Ankalaev’s unbeaten streak to 14 straight fights.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes,
9 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The current de facto Moroccan sovereignty only prolongs Sahrawis’ exile, and an escalation would carry steep costs for all sides.—
Hannah Rae Armstrong,
Foreign Affairs,
4 Mar. 2025
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Measles cases have risen in recent years, with 285 US cases reported last year, the most since 2019 when prolonged outbreaks among under vaccinated communities in New York threatened elimination status, according to the CDC.—
Nadia Kounang,
CNN,
2 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Talent impacts: Automation of repetitive tasks may decrease offshoring appeal and increase demand for advanced skills.—
Mit Somaiya,
Sourcing Journal,
3 Mar. 2025
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Israel has also increased public funding for projects by Israeli filmmakers from West Bank settlements — the very enterprise that the film No Other Land criticizes as taking over Palestinian homes and land.—
Nuha Musleh,
NPR,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
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No official tally of firings has been released, but the list stretches into the thousands and to nearly every part of the country.—
Matt Sedensky,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Protract.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protract. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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