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

The second, Stillpoint, aims to release and restore calm with a deep oil-free massage, along with rocking compressions, assisted stretches, and Kansa wand techniques. — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 3 Oct. 2026 The CloudFluff Comforter wraps you in super-soft knitted cotton that breathes and stretches, with whole-piece feather silk filling for a lofty, cozy feel without the weight. — ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026 Their complementary styles also produced some of Team USA’s most electric stretches. — Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026 But this year, portions of the river have been transformed into stretches of dry sand and gravel, while farmers have kept hayfields green by running their wells and pumps. — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026 Ray started work two years before the shoot, with Laxe spending five-day stretches at his Berlin studio. — Ben Croll, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026 The itinerary is a really nice mix of sea days and port days, without super long stretches of ocean-only views. — Megan Dubois, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2026 Over the weekend, several popular pedestrian walkways were covered in several inches of water, including the Hollywood Broadwalk, stretches of A1A in Fort Lauderdale and Collins Avenue in Miami Beach. — Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 29 Sep. 2026 And reentry is among the most dangerous stretches of any mission to orbit. — Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2026

Verb

That realization became one of many while crafting a series on a book that spans 50 years and stretches across the country but that Kazan insists is built on the characters, rather than spectacle. — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 4 Oct. 2026 Highway 1 stretches 656 miles from Leggett in Mendocino County to Dana Point in Orange County. — Sacbee.com, 4 Oct. 2026 Then on Halloween, the Moonrocks kick off a headlining tour that stretches into February and features stops at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom, Mission Ballroom in Denver, and two nights at Webster Hall in New York. — Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2026 The narrative stretches from the aftermath of the Civil War to the First World War—conflicts that, for the Trasks, are opportunities for profiteering. — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 1 Oct. 2026 The airline also provides complimentary hotel accommodations and ground transportation to and from the airport in the event of a delay that stretches overnight. — Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2026 The kitchen, for example, had overhead cabinets that blocked the views of the cliffs and canyons of Topanga State Park, which stretches just beyond the living room and deck. — Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026 The selection also stretches the fashion theme to cover youth culture and music. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 Sep. 2026 Palacios, of RevED, said the issue of dysfunction among board members stretches beyond their request for an apology from Winn. — Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stretches

Noun

National monuments are designed to protect specific locations and objects, such as archaeological or historical sites, whereas national parks have a broader purpose including recreation and the preservation of vast expanses of wilderness.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
And this week, our story about the dwindling water levels in Lake Powell, the country’s second-largest reservoir, shows breathtaking expanses of dry canyon plunging to a shrinking, narrow ribbon of teal green.

— Stephanie Hanes, Christian Science Monitor, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of expanses

Noun

The announcement describes the systems’ intended capabilities but does not provide detection ranges, engagement distances, or performance results.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026
The exact current values are obscured because federal filings use broad ranges and exclude subsequent market moves.

— Luke Fountain, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of ranges

Noun

Flooding from the surge can vary greatly over short distances depending on the timing of the surge and tidal cycle.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
This means that foods eaten closer to harvest retain more of their health benefits compared to ones that have to travel farther distances or sit longer on shelves.

— Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 5 Oct. 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

Abercrombie keeps moving away from its old identity while Hollister pulls recognizable pieces of its past back onto the racks.

— Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2026
As Béatrice’s amateur detective work pulls her in deeper, the strands begin to suggest a conspiracy, one marked by mysterious disappearances and the clandestine sway of the Vatican.

— Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of pulls

Verb

This isn’t one of those stories in which the protagonist desperately tries to convince everyone they’re being pursued by some kind of demon from beyond that no one else can see.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
Part of how the show tries to earn it is through the entrances.

— Alex Zalben, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2026