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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
During another hot stretch a year later, the peak index was the same. Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 6 July 2025 Early in the Trump administration, Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) offered state National Guard soldiers to be deputized as federal immigration agents and offered its stretch of buoy barrier floating in the Rio Grande as an asset to the federal government. Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 6 July 2025
Verb
To this day, Ashe’s legacy still stretches way beyond the court, inspiring a new generation of athlete activists – some of whom are playing at Wimbledon this year. Matias Grez, CNN Money, 5 July 2025 The Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area stretches across the 2.5-mile beach of the Kalma Peninsula. Se Eun Gong, NPR, 5 July 2025
Adjective
Made with a stretch cotton French terry material, the half-zip is soft on the inside while maintaining its chic, cropped exterior. Madison Yauger, People.com, 10 May 2025 Denim veteran Piero Turk plugged into his roots in Italian luxury with garments that utilized the comfort of stretch denim without fitting tight on the body. Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 24 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stretch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretch
Noun
  • The changes should spur the expansion of housing in urban areas that are close to jobs and transportation and make an impactful contribution toward addressing the housing crisis in California by narrowing the gap between housing demand and supply.
    Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 July 2025
  • Infrastructure And Security Must Scale With Innovation With the proliferation of AI, IoT and edge computing, enterprises are seeing a massive expansion in the volume of connected devices, data streams and computing endpoints.
    Massimo Peselli, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
Noun
  • Collagen cream is a notably burgeoning—and buzzy—category in the skin-care space these days.
    Kiana Murden, Vogue, 7 July 2025
  • According to Redfin, Dilworth is home to sprawling green spaces, eclectic dining options and numerous walking trails.
    Nora O’Neill July 7, Charlotte Observer, 7 July 2025
Noun
  • How the Autism Theater Project was born The theater program showcases lives on and off the spectrum in an authentic way, helping crew members and actors work on productions.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 12 July 2025
  • At the opposite end of the spectrum is Utah, which had the lowest cancer rate nationwide, with just 358 cases per 100,000 residents—a figure 45 percent lower than Maine's.
    Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 July 2025
Noun
  • Bears like to keep their distance from groups of people.
    Mike Stunson July 14, Kansas City Star, 14 July 2025
  • Šefčovič reiterated on Monday his belief that a deal had been within touching distance before Trump’s latest tariff salvo.
    Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 14 July 2025
Verb
  • Dissenting Justice Sonia Sotomayor did not exaggerate the consequences of the court’s 6-3 decision.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 3 July 2025
  • Critics say the deal undervalued the golf course and exaggerated the benefits.
    Sarah Lapidus, AZCentral.com, 3 July 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
  • Dislocated joints have been repaired, tendons have been lengthened.
    Scott Craven, AZCentral.com, 10 July 2025
  • With shorter, warmer winters in recent years, the season when ticks bite is lengthening.
    Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 4 July 2025
Verb
  • Ruby Rodriguez, 62, of California, was charged with trespassing in December after trying to gain access to the club.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 11 July 2025
  • And everyone in the NHL is trying to get bigger and meaner because the Panthers keeping winning.
    Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 10 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Stretch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stretch. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

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