STRETCHING Synonyms: 140 Similar and Opposite Words

stretching 1 of 2

noun

as in extension

the act of making longer excessive stretching can cause the fabric to tear or lose its elasticity

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in exaggeration

the representation of something in terms that go beyond the facts your constant stretching of the truth is going to get you in trouble someday

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stretching

2 of 2

verb

present participle of stretch

as in exaggerating

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 pulling

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

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as in lengthening

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 trying

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 tightening

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 stretching

Noun

Before the Rams went through stretching exercises, Donald sat on a red exercise ball, taking in the scene and focusing his thoughts for the workout ahead. — Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026 Two to 3 inches of rain are possible in a corridor stretching from the Great Lakes into southern New England, though confidence is low on how far east the rain will travel. — Tyler Ory, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026 For example, selecting a chair that encourages an upright posture can reduce pain and injury risk, especially when gamers couple ergonomics with an exercise program that centers on functional strength, mobility and stretching of the upper limbs. — Erica D. Henn, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2026 As long hours spent in the same position can contribute to poor posture, stiffness and other physical issues, experts say regular movement and stretching can help prevent joint pain and muscle weakness. — Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026 Moments later, the duo was back in all of its fantastic polka-dot glory, complete with those oversized masks, and doing some quick stretching/calisthenics to get ready for the show. — Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026 Haunted Mansion props on the parade floats will include the conservatory casket, cryptic gravestones, gargoyle candleholders, watchful busts, haunted armor and stretching room portraits. — Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 18 Aug. 2026 Regular movement, stretching, and strengthening exercises can help maintain joint mobility. — Rikkilynn Shields Hannigan, HEALTH, 17 Aug. 2026 Snapshot is a stirring blend of gothic noir; horror documentary and found footage stretching reality in an innovative way. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 12 Aug. 2026

Verb

The move may mark more than another bout of bond-market volatility, with consequences stretching across economies and financial markets. — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026 The fires have spread across several provinces, creating a vast front of flames stretching from the center to the far east of the country. — ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026 Groceries, healthcare premiums, childcare and student loan payments are also stretching household budgets across the region. — Jessica Lipscomb, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026 External forces such as stretching, pressure, or temperature can slightly alter the glass's physical and optical properties, making these forces measurable by tracking changes in the light passing through the optical fiber. — Pawel Maniewski, New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026 An exaggerated split wood base gives the design a floating effect while slightly upturned bench-style cushioning offers a comfy perch for sitting upright or stretching out. — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 2 Sep. 2026 Hart also remembers taking notes on Flockhart's stretching routine and breathing exercises ahead of shows. — Kalia Richardson, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026 The property occupied a narrow 300-foot-long lot stretching from the bay to the ocean, and Kaufman shaped the house around the views, creating a living room where the views extend across the island and the water in multiple directions. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 2 Sep. 2026 The focal point is the cushioned signature knot detail — a voluminous strap stretching across the toes and comprising the entirely of the upper. — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretching

Noun

This symbolic gesture is a desperate attempt to spark a turnaround for the slugger, whose power outage follows a recent $500 million extension.

— Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Perepadya expressed fear that the automatic extension of Ukraine’s TPS designation will be the country’s last, forcing his family to return home.

— Alula Alderson, Sacbee.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of extension

Noun

Staffers for major political figures have puzzled over the content, and are growing concerned about the rise of a new wave of videos with errors, exaggerations, misleading comments, and a tone that can be downright weird.

— Max Tani, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Asante draws a manufacturing analogy—with some exaggeration—arguing that previous nuclear power plants were built bespoke, akin to constructing an entire factory to produce a single car.

— Jordan Blum, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of exaggeration

Verb

The financial affiliations have prompted speculation, especially through strands of the Iranian diaspora, who accuse some of its journalists of exaggerating the level of support for figures in the opposition and of advocating for war.

— Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2026
Thomas cautioned against exaggerating the power of AI agents, however.

— Reuters, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of exaggerating

Verb

Why TikTok livestream selling can drive big sales Three forces are pulling sellers toward livestream commerce, and Duplantis’s numbers reflect all of them.

— Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 30 Aug. 2026
Wildfire risk is pushing insurers to underwrite hotels based on physical resilience rather than location alone, and carriers are pulling back from some markets entirely.

— Josipa Majic Predin, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of pulling

Verb

Stein attributed the drop to a lengthening backlog for accounts receivable as Nvidia has loosened payment terms for its many backstopping deals.

— Tobias Burns, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
Levi’s 726 High-Rise Flare Jeans The flares on these Levi’s jeans start lower on the leg for a cleaner, lengthening line.

— Michelle Rostamian, PEOPLE, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of lengthening

Verb

In this perspective, restricting ballot delivery to names on new federal voter lists, and tightening Postal Service handling of ballots, is framed as a necessary safeguard against systemic abuse of mail voting.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
As Russia’s war in Ukraine becomes increasingly costly with no end in sight, the Kremlin has kept tightening its grip over Russian society.

— Andrei Soldatov, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of tightening

Noun

King managed to take the suffocating history of the Indian — the treaties, the massacres, the Hollywood caricatures — and turn it into something conversational, even funny.

— Tommy Orange, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026
Retailer Target pulled a children’s Halloween costume from its shelves Monday after widespread social media backlash, apologizing for selling a garment critics said evoked racist minstrel caricatures.

— Nancy Jiang, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026