PROLONG Synonyms: 25 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'prolong' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of prolong are extend , lengthen , and protract . While all these words mean "to draw out or add to so as to increase in length," prolong suggests chiefly increase in duration especially beyond usual limits. // prolonged illness

Q: How do 'extend' and 'lengthen' relate to one another, in the sense of 'prolong'?

Both extend and lengthen imply a drawing out in space or time but extend may also imply increase in width, scope, area, or range. // extend a vacation // extend welfare services // lengthen a skirt // lengthen the workweek

Q: How are the words 'protract' and 'prolong' related?

Protract adds to prolong implications of needlessness, vexation, or indefiniteness. // protracted litigation

prolong

verb

prə-ˈlȯŋ

Definition of prolong

as in to lengthen

to make longer would like to prolong our vacation by any means possible

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the verb prolong contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of prolong are extend, lengthen, and protract. While all these words mean "to draw out or add to so as to increase in length," prolong suggests chiefly increase in duration especially beyond usual limits.

prolonged illness

How do extend and lengthen relate to one another, in the sense of prolong?

Both extend and lengthen imply a drawing out in space or time but extend may also imply increase in width, scope, area, or range.

extend a vacation

extend welfare services

lengthen a skirt

lengthen the workweek

How are the words protract and prolong related?

Protract adds to prolong implications of needlessness, vexation, or indefiniteness.

protracted litigation

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 prolong The defense team warned the device could cause painful shocks and prolong the execution, but Tennessee’s highest court refused to intervene and prison officials left it on. — Keri Blakinger, ProPublica, 6 Oct. 2026 Other options include pregnancy termination and neonatal treatment intended to prolong life. — Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026 Tryptophan supplementation can help prolong sleep time, reduce sleep fragmentation, and improve sleep quality. — Emmanuella Ogbonna, HEALTH, 2 Oct. 2026 The vote prolongs the crisis and raises the chance of early elections at a time of regional security concerns, with the NATO member confronting a sharp increase in drone incursions linked to Russia’s war in neighboring Ukraine. — Stephen McGrath, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for prolong

Recent Examples of Synonyms for prolong

Verb

The fund urged debt managers to lengthen maturities, warning that rollover risk could be exacerbated by strategies that replace long-term debt with short-term borrowing on a large scale.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026
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

Definition of lengthen

Verb

That question motivated Clark to better understand aging among plants and animals and to look for hints to extend humans' lifespan.

— KYLE MELNICK THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
It's also got two passive radiators for deep bass, and CMF says it's tuned the driver to extend its low-end range.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of extend

Verb

To increase supply, the International Energy Agency agreed on Thursday to release more than 20 million barrels of fuel to the market.

— Arathy Somasekhar Reuters, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
Preparing multiple missions Manufacturing more rocket hardware will not increase launch frequency unless teams can prepare several missions simultaneously.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of increase

Browse Nearby Words

prologues

prolong

prolongation

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Style

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

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Synonyms of prolong

verb

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