as in enlarged
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1
as in exaggerated
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 lengthened
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in tried
to subject (a personal quality or faculty) to often excessive stress
your whining is stretching my patience to the limit
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stretched
Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2025
America’s health care system is straining under the twin pressures of an aging population and a stretched pool of health care providers.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2025
Despite this pullback, the stock still trades at a stretched nine times trailing revenue—well above its historical average of three times.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Joey Cappelletti, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
State officials say the program is a way to reduce costs, prevent medication lapses, and ease the burden on doctors, particularly in rural areas where clinicians are already stretched thin.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 8 Jan. 2026
These galaxies grazed each other millions of years ago, in a gravitational close pass that bent and stretched their spiral structures.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 8 Jan. 2026
The tax credits' extension was at the center of the government shutdown, which stretched through October and into November to become the longest in history.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
Still without Franz Wagner (left high ankle sprain) and Jalen Suggs (right knee Grade 1 MCL contusion), the Magic saw an 11-game win streak against the Wizards that stretched back to March 2023 come to an end.
—Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026
Avoid the dryer in order to avoid stretched out tights.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2026
My stomach stretched to accommodate life.
—Sarah Oreck, SELF, 6 Jan. 2026
As the celebration carried on, DJs took over, transforming the event into a dance party that stretched into the early hours.
—Sarah Jones, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
The stretched body improves aerodynamics while giving the car a sleek, understated appearance.
—Verb
The law requires presidents to notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying forces and to end military action within 60 to 90 days absent authorization — limits that presidents of both parties have routinely stretched.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretched
Adjective
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Other features include an entrance plaza, a new seventy-four-seat forum, an enlarged seventh-floor sky room, and three new elevators, to improve circulation.—
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King Charles had been getting treatment after being diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer, which was detected in tests after a corrective procedure for an enlarged prostate, Buckingham Palace said in February 2024.—
Verb
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In some cases, China has exaggerated its actual contributions, sowing mistrust about its agenda.—
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On top of that, the lineup projects to be too left-handed at the moment, which would be further exaggerated by adding Bellinger back into the fold.—
Verb
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Then, a crisis involving a family friend named Evelyn Chang pulled him back into action.—
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Mini Kim and mini Khloé pulled a switcheroo with their T-shirts — a favorite pastime of theirs, according to Khloé, who posted this adorable pic.—
Verb
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The roll-up top can be lengthened or tightened to fit your skis, accommodating up to two pairs of skis that are 203 centimeters long, as well as all the gear needed—from helmets and boots to gloves and ski gear.—
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Voices have dropped; IMDb pages have lengthened.—
Verb
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Some commenters tried to strike a middle ground, acknowledging the humor while criticizing the impact on workers.—
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That's when Goldberg said two ICE agents got out of their own vehicle, walked across the lot and tried to open Goldberg's car door.—
Verb
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Look at China’s neighborhood in Asia, where Japan, India, Australia, Vietnam and others have steadily tightened their security ties with the United States and each other in response to Beijing’s rise.—
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Georgia cut the lead to 59-52 on a 3-pointer by Kanon Catchings, but the Bulldogs missed their next seven of eight shots as Florida’s defense tightened its grip.—
Adjective
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Use an indoor drying rack to dry the faux fur flat, or place it on a sturdy, padded hanger and hang it from a shower rod to dry.—
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Getting flip-flops with thick, padded soles will ensure that your ankles, toes and heels don’t feel sore after a long day.—
Verb
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Despite its age, MAVEN has enough fuel to remain in orbit until at least 2030, and the mission was formally extended in 2022 through September 2025.—
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The tender deadline was extended once and Paramount’s counsel acknowledged at the hearing today that it will be extended again but did not note the new date.—
Cite this Entry
“Stretched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stretched. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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