protracted 1 of 2

adjective

as in prolonged

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protracted

2 of 2

verb

past tense of protract
as in lengthened
to make longer the highway project was protracted by years of litigation

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 protracted
Adjective
Oil jumped by more than 5% to $95 a barrel, while Asian stocks slid over worries the latest attacks point to protracted hostilities. — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026 Carriage negotiations between more traditional TV providers and the network owners regularly turn into protracted affairs, causing channel blackouts if not lawsuits. — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Potential outcomes include a lengthy standoff over raising the debt ceiling, more whipsawing executive actions and potential volatility if there's a protracted wait for election results. — Garrett Downs, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026 Sources at Arsenal and Newcastle suggest that the protracted pursuit of Guimaraes is now entering its end game. — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 5 Aug. 2026 Less of a reboot than a shameless do-over, Marc Webb‘s first Spider-Man film tells a more protracted origin story, with half the fun and twice the self-importance (the film earns a rare dead-dad hat trick). — Darren Franich, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Aug. 2026 The Iranian regime wants to drag the United States into a protracted war. — Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 29 July 2026 Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Saber-rattling between Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association over the league’s push for a salary cap could lead to a protracted lockout. — Maury Brown, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026 An aide can be assigned to watch a particularly challenging resident one-on-one, but many places lack enough staff for protracted, dedicated supervision. — Jordan Rau, NPR, 19 July 2026
Verb
The split with the organization was triggered by a tense and protracted confrontation with the chair of its board of directors, Sophie Chandauka. — Diego Parrado, Vanity Fair, 16 Aug. 2026 When hostilities intensify and become protracted, hatred, resentment, and the desire for revenge make war self-sustaining. — Matt Waldman, Foreign Affairs, 13 Aug. 2026 That Premier League transfer eventually came at the start of July, following protracted talks between Middlesbrough and Everton. — Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026 The eviction process was protracted and followed a series of complex legal battles led by residents of the encampment, who organized as a collective to advocate for their rights. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026 That's the most expensive use of outside spending apart from Texas' contentious and protracted Senate race. — Saige Miller, NPR, 5 Aug. 2026 Their task, then, is to navigate what is likely to be an ugly, protracted battle in which the league will be in direct opposition to the players people pay to see. — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 17 July 2026 Syria, Libya, and Yemen have already endured civil wars and protracted humanitarian crises. — Sarah Yerkes, Time, 10 July 2026 Tom Steyer, Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton California’s crowded and protracted gubernatorial primary is going to take a little more time to settle. — Kaylah Jackson, NBC news, 3 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protracted
  1. prolonged
  2. lengthened
  3. interminable
  4. extended
  5. longish
  6. stretched
  7. overlong
  8. increased
Adjective
  • Growth in the world's second-largest economy slowed to multi-year lows in the second quarter, weighed down by tepid domestic demand and a prolonged real estate slump.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
  • However, the prolonged deployment raised concerns amid reports of health issues, deteriorating conditions aboard the warship, and low morale.
    — Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of prolonged
Verb
  • The piece was based on a recent study from UCLA that found that waiting times for surgery for nonmetastatic breast, colon, lung, pancreatic, gastric and esophageal cancer have lengthened across the board over the last 10 years or so.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Its researchers later lengthened its legs to almost 3½ feet ahead of the games, according to broadcaster CCTV.
    — Reuters, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of lengthened
Adjective
  • Michigan's seemingly interminable 2026 primary season is — finally — over.
    — M.L. Elrick, Freep.com, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The pandemic, after all, sliced history definitively into an unknowing before, an interminable during, and a maybe-one-day after.
    — Mitch Therieau, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of interminable
Verb
  • The change in leadership comes less than two years after UCLA extended Jarmond’s contract through June 2029.
    — Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Its graphics processing capabilities were repeatedly extended into new arenas, most consequentially AI computing.
    — Jeff DeGraff, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of extended
Adjective
  • The errand conveniently provided the opportunity for a longish highway test of Lexus’ newest luxury people-mover.
    — Sponsored Content, Denver Post, 21 Mar. 2026
  • When the front door opens, they’re greeted by an androgynous person with longish hair, thick eyebrows and a deep voice.
    — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 2 Aug. 2025
Definition of longish
Verb
  • Eiffela Broken Dream splits the Eiffel Tower into two sections, with a cable stretched between them for a tightrope crossing.
    — Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Blair's 52-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage in the second half stretched the Jackrabbits' lead to 49-0.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of stretched
Adjective
  • Still, there’s a kind of hip, comfort food aspect to the entire enterprise that keeps it an easy, if slightly cluttered and overlong watch.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Vaniček has certainly delivered — a relentlessly violent, overlong, one-note, meandering grindhouse that lacks its predecessors' Looney Tunes approach to horror and humor.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 July 2026
Definition of overlong
Verb
  • Additionally, writing longer, more detailed descriptions of concerns (over 100 words) significantly increased response rates.
    — Paul Hsieh, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Overall, the budget increased by $720,000 since September 2025, Korfanta said.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of increased

Browse Nearby Words

protract
protracted
protracting
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Cite this Entry

“Protracted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protracted. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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