STRETCHES Synonyms: 207 Similar and Opposite Words

stretches 1 of 2

noun

plural of stretch

as in expanses

a wide space or area a narrow stretch of beach below the cliffs

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Relevance

as in whiles

an indefinite but usually short period of time there was a cardinal at our bird feeder for a short stretch last spring

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as in ranges

the distance or extent between possible extremes the stories were written over a considerable stretch of time

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as in distances

the space or amount of space between two points, lines, surfaces, or objects the longest stretch of the drive without any place to get gas

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stretches

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of stretch

as in exaggerates

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

as in pulls

to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure I stretched a back muscle, and the pain is killing me

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as in lengthens

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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as in tries

to subject (a personal quality or faculty) to often excessive stress your whining is stretching my patience to the limit

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as in tightens

to draw tight if the canvas isn't properly stretched over the frame, there will be sagging over time

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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 stretches

Noun

There have been periodic stretches when the Jayhawks were inactive. — Steve Appleford, SPIN, 31 Aug. 2026 In the years that followed, King made frequent visits to Murphy’s house, often for long stretches. — Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026 For France, long accustomed to wildfires along arid stretches of the Atlantic and Mediterranean, the devastation in Le Porge has yielded rare consensus that its fire safety system is not up to fighting mega-fires brought on by climate change. — Michael Finnegan, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026 What starts quietly soon becomes one of the most scenic stretches of the entire resort. — Jeff Goudy, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 Ride powerful ATVs across vast stretches of black-sand beaches, or set out on snowmobiles across sweeping glaciers. — Gwen Nicol, Travel + Leisure, 29 Aug. 2026 Position players would have to stay on the IL for at least one full Monday-to-Monday span, with pitchers spanning two of those stretches. — Evan Drellich, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2026 The low-key Warren is an affable conversationalist, whether revisiting his traumatic upbringing after losing both parents and long stretches of homelessness, or explaining his excitement about his new music. — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026 One of the spa’s Energy and Eastern offerings, Vasudhara was developed in-house by Miraval therapists and combines weightless water therapy with Thai massage stretches and bodywork. — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2026

Verb

Lyonnes and Washington Spirit of the NWSL, Kang’s influence stretches across the global game, but it cannot be escaped that Putellas has dropped down from the highest level with this move. — Katie Whyatt, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026 But 160 Leroy portends a future that stretches the definition of what constitutes New York living into hitherto-unknown territory. — Bridget Read, Curbed, 1 Sep. 2026 This mechanical action instantly stretches the second film, acting as the refrigerator. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026 Abhishek Khatiwada believes his missing cousin, Rajendra Dhakal, is also inside the project’s tunnel network –– which stretches more than four kilometers, according to documents from the Nepal Electricity Authority. — Bhadra Sharma, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026 The Pismo Beach Pier stretches out 1,200 feet into the ocean. — Sacbee.com, 30 Aug. 2026 Set within its own natural lagoon on the southernmost tip of the Raa Atoll, the ocean stretches out as far as the eye can see, with hardly a blip separating sea, horizon, and sky. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026 The line today stretches into the parking lot, a stark increase from the last few days. — Sumiko Corley, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026 Camping stretches the experience beyond show hours, the landscape stays visible from across the grounds, and the single-stage format gives attendees time to settle in. — Svetlana Khachiyan, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretches

Noun

The umbral shadow will first appear as a small semicircle of shadow close to the dark expanses of Oceanus Procellarum (the Ocean of Storms) and Mare Humorum on the moon's southwestern edge, before swiftly spreading to swallow the nearby moonscape.

— Anthony Wood, Space.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Security Meets Style Expect larger expanses of glass, slimmer frames, and design that blurs the line between indoors and out.

— Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of expanses

Noun

The stock market is doing just enough, through slim trading volumes and narrow index trading ranges, to escape August with its uptrend intact.

— Michael Santoli, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
In practice, American pilots will be able to detect an enemy on radar, launch the missile from extreme ranges and destroy the target before coming within close proximity to the enemy, potentially increasing the pilot's survivability.

— Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of ranges

Noun

The approach, developed by a team led by researchers from York University in Toronto, could improve how humanoid robots judge distances, recognize object orientation, and navigate complex environments.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
Death Valley is an extraordinary place, but its heat, distances, and remoteness can be dangerous, regardless of experience.

— Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of distances

Verb

Armour points to two recent plays, one involving Chelsea Gray and another involving Kiah Stokes, as proof that Clark exaggerates contact and creates false narratives about opposing players.

— Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 July 2026
The best place to start is a sporting culture that exaggerates accomplishments and rewards capitalistic success before the sporting variety.

— Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Definition of exaggerates

Verb

There’s a fun bit when Green pulls her badge to walk Reacher out through the police cordon, pretending to have placed him under arrest, but the ruse doesn’t last long.

— Chris Klimek, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026
The curvy wood frame and oversized door pulls give the Scandi-centric piece a bit of retro appeal without feeling dated.

— Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of pulls

Verb

The sideways lean becomes a forward one, the gap between his legs increases, and his feet begin landing beneath or slightly behind his centre of mass as his stride lengthens.

— Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Tucking your chin gently toward the floor while lying down lengthens the back of the neck.

— Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026

Definition of lengthens

Verb

Linney’s Guardian tries to draw out some resentment from her new candidate, but John expresses (or feigns) sympathy for Hal, who was betrayed by his father figure Sinestro, an experience John likens to his own complicated upbringing.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026
However, if a person tries to inject the drug, naloxone blocks buprenorphine’s opioid effects, triggering withdrawal in a person with opioid dependence.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026