OUTSTRETCHED Synonyms: 83 Similar and Opposite Words

outstretched 1 of 2

adjective

as in extensive

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

outstretched

2 of 2

verb

past tense of outstretch

as in extended

to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area the dog had outstretched his legs and was lying across the width of the doorway

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in lengthened

to make longer having outstretched our lunch break beyond all reason, we reluctantly headed back to work

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 outstretched

Adjective

In fact, the outstretched leg of midfielder Nicolas Fernandez almost broke up the cross-pitch through ball that Berterame tried to sneak to the 39-year-old right before halftime. — Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026 The Sixpack offers a bit of an outstretched hand to try to woo those buyers back to the Dodge fold. — New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2026 Zaroury scored in the 63rd minute to give Columbus a 2-1 lead and Habroune bounced a volley over the outstretched arm of goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina, off the crossbar and into the net to cap the scoring about 2 minutes later. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026 Grace Carroll gives a poignant performance as the Nightingale—borne aloft with arched back and trembling, outstretched hands by other dancers, who play thorns that pierce her breast—and Adam Elmes makes a seductively sinister Dorian Gray. — Hannah Aizenman, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026 Replays determined a fan’s outstretched hands aided the ball over the left-field wall. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026 Son bent a low shot from 24 yards out past the outstretched hand of goalkeeper Angus Gunn and inside the near post to open the scoring in the 34th minute. — Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026 The English midfielder’s silhouette with outstretched arms serves as his signature logo along with a script featuring his initials. — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026 An outstretched hand After reciting the confessional, the Ne’ilah service adds one more prayer, not used in other services. — Reuven Kimelman, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for outstretched

Adjective

California sought to adopt a price cap law this year as well, though the bill, which faced extensive lobbying from ticket resale platform StubHub, had failed.

— Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2026
Explain when your engagement is too extensive, when another type of provider may be a better fit and what responsibilities remain with the client.

— Dennis Kirwan, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of extensive

Verb

The Biden administration subsequently extended the designation, most recently in January 2025, when DHS authorized an additional 18 months of protection through October 2026.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
The next sheriff’s election will not be held until 2028 because of a change in state law that extended his term from four years to six.

— Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of extended

Verb

During construction, it was lengthened by 39 feet, adding a submarine hangar, a media studio, and a 3-D-printing and robotics laboratory.

— Robb Report, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026
The cash conversion cycle has lengthened, inventory turnover has slowed, and average days on the lot have crept higher.

— Michael Khouw, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of lengthened

Adjective

Its sister service Starshield, a military version developed for the Pentagon, relies on the Starlink network and has recently been used by Ukrainian forces to strengthen its far-reaching drone strike missions and air defenses.

— Tiago Ventura, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
Since the popularization of broadcast radio, in the nineteen-twenties, people have been experimenting with ways to use the far-reaching signal to send personal messages back and forth.

— Jordan Salama, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of far-reaching

Verb

Trump has vastly expanded ICE to ramp up deportations of immigrants, refugees and asylum-seekers, and the agency was a major part of last year’s law-enforcement surge in the Chicago area known as Operation Midway Blitz.

— Daniel C. Vock, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Open Doors Foundation, which began operations in 2025 and quickly expanded before running into zoning and code issues at multiple properties this year, has sought to remain open at 3221 Independence Avenue, its original location.

— Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of expanded

Verb

In a few small depressions farthest from the river, auburn-brown vegetation and peat have stretched into thick floating mats across open water, forming what’s known as a quaking bog.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
The confrontation led to a standoff that stretched into Friday morning.

— Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of stretched

Adjective

Throughout the event, a guy bounds around, introducing the recordists, then crouching to cue their recordings on a laptop, his dark, longish hair under a black dad cap bearing the club’s name.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
The errand conveniently provided the opportunity for a longish highway test of Lexus’ newest luxury people-mover.

— Sponsored Content, Denver Post, 21 Mar. 2026

Definition of longish

Verb

The foundation has also supported Dell Children’s Medical Center, which opened in 2007, and the Dell Pediatric Research Institute, helping expand access to specialized children’s care and medical research in the region.

— Sydney Lake, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
The 2-3 Rams, who opened the season as Super Bowl favorites, released kicker Harrison Mevis after last Monday’s overtime loss to the Buffalo Bills and signed Grupe from the New York Jets practice squad.

— Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of opened

Browse Nearby Words

outstretch

outstretched

outstretches

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Outstretched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/outstretched. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of outstretched

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes