1
as in extension
the act of making longer
excessive stretching can cause the fabric to tear or lose its elasticity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in exaggeration
the representation of something in terms that go beyond the facts
your constant stretching of the truth is going to get you in trouble someday
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in exaggerating
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 pulling
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 lengthening
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
as in trying
to subject (a personal quality or faculty) to often excessive stress
your whining is stretching my patience to the limit
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5
as in tightening
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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretching
Noun
-
Around the time the divorce was finalized, the Hall of Fame coach, 54, signed a record contract extension with the Heat worth roughly $120 million.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
17 Mar. 2025 -
The Cincinnati Bengals and star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase have agreed to a record-breaking contract extension.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
17 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The comedic exaggeration is clear, but the bit is also a gesture to something deeper: Americans are skeptical about their government’s national security claims against China and open to seeing the country and its people through a different light.—
Mark Tseng-Putterman / Made by History,
TIME,
10 Mar. 2025
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This scale ranks objects from 0, meaning no impact, to 10, which is (ok, this is a slight exaggeration) nearly as bad as the destruction of Alderaan in Star Wars.—
Eric Berger,
Ars Technica,
24 Feb. 2025
Verb
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An executive order, delivered Friday, cites national security concerns for pulling the deal.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
3 Jan. 2025
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Advertisement The lawsuit comes as insurers have been pulling back from California’s home insurance market en masse, often citing the risk of catastrophic events brought on by climate change.—
Andrea Chang,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The six-month pause due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA work stoppages created a pipeline logjam at most streamers, including Netflix, for the second half of 2024 and 2025, further lengthening the gaps between seasons.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
27 Dec. 2024
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Lifting, lengthening, feathering, and deep-dark dramatizing—Lancôme's Lash Idôle Waterproof Mascara hooks us every time.—
Sarah Han,
Allure,
24 Dec. 2024
Verb
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New York police on Monday were trying to determine why someone set a woman ablaze board a train in Brooklyn in a fatal attack drawing outrage from city and state leaders who have been laboring to make the trains safer.—
John Bacon,
USA TODAY,
24 Dec. 2024
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The holdups come during one of the busiest travel times of the year, frustrating hundreds of customers trying to get home for the holidays.—
Roni Jacobson,
New York Daily News,
24 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Barkley said the Commanders brought more defenders near the box, tightening their approach against an offense without its dual-threat option.—
Brooks Kubena,
The Athletic,
22 Dec. 2024
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If the Fed acts early and forcefully by tightening rates again, short-term yields may rise, but long-term yields may not do anything or even fall.—
Garth Friesen,
Forbes,
21 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The Vice President’s face has been subject to mock meme edits for several months, as political commentators used editing tools to exaggerate his features and create child-like caricatures.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes,
8 Mar. 2025
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Amis’s caricatures retain their links to British reality; his observations about class, gender, and money still find their mark.—
Rachel Cusk,
Harper's Magazine,
19 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The Knicks picked up their 14th win in the last 18 games with a dominant wire-to-wire 139-125 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Monday night, extending their winning streak to four games.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
24 Dec. 2024
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The main suite is located near the yacht’s bow, extending privacy and exceptional views—especially from the suite’s balcony with sunbathing area and an infinity pool.—
Julia Zaltzman,
Robb Report,
23 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Stretching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stretching. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
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