as in prolonged
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as in lengthened
to make longer
the highway project was protracted by years of litigation
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Recent Examples of protracted
Paige Bruton,
semafor.com,
1 July 2026
The announcement stands in stark contrast with the situation across the Bay, where talks between the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland and hundreds of other abuse victims remain mired in a protracted and increasingly bitter stalemate.
—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
29 June 2026
Former health minister Wes Streeting, viewed as a potential challenger, has instead backed Burnham's bid, easing some concern about a protracted and divisive leadership battle.
—
Gail Krishnan,
CNBC,
23 June 2026
While some experts, like Tom Hulick, remain optimistic, citing strong liquidity and AI's future earnings potential, others, including Jason Huang, question if this signals a buying opportunity or a more protracted downturn.
—
John Werner,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
The shootings have highlighted a protracted debate over Missouri’s gun laws, among the loosest in the nation, and local leaders’ yearslong struggle to combat homicides and fatal shootings.
—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
17 June 2026
Two people with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press that the four-time NFL MVP agreed to a one-year deal to return to the Steelers on Saturday, ending a protracted decision-making process.
—
Will Graves,
Chicago Tribune,
17 May 2026
Two people with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press that the four-time NFL MVP agreed to a one-year deal to return to Pittsburgh on Saturday, ending a protracted decision-making process.
—
ABC News,
16 May 2026
The already acrimonious relationship continued to sour amid a protracted and bitter legal battle, and as Dan started dating Kolkena, before eventually proposing to her.
—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2026
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
20 June 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
The utilities, by offering to settle in return for an acknowledgment of Gillett’s decision-making, are agreeing to the dismissal – without costs to any party – of what was shaping up as protracted, costly and ultimately losing litigation for the state.
—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
28 May 2026
Russia’s war with Ukraine showed that wars could be protracted and require deep inventories of advanced weapons, Cancian said.
—
ABC News,
27 May 2026
And nobody has ever designed a reactor for the moon, a hostile volcanic desert subject to extreme temperature swings, frequent asteroid strikes and protracted quakes.
—
Robin George Andrews,
Scientific American,
19 May 2026
After some protracted legal drama, Subnautica 2 is finally about to launch.
—
Jay Peters,
The Verge,
30 Apr. 2026
The back-and-forth between Kehoe and Johnson offered a window into a yearslong, protracted debate over Missouri’s gun laws, among the loosest in the nation.
—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
29 Apr. 2026
Know More Hochstein noted that complex nuclear deals involve protracted negotiations on issues such as verification, enrichment levels, and reporting.
—
J.d. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Set during the protracted period of economic decline in 1970s Ghana, two sisters, Evelyn and Maggie, make a deal to run away to the US to start a new life together.
—
Paige Bruton,
semafor.com,
1 July 2026
The announcement stands in stark contrast with the situation across the Bay, where talks between the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland and hundreds of other abuse victims remain mired in a protracted and increasingly bitter stalemate.
—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
29 June 2026
Former health minister Wes Streeting, viewed as a potential challenger, has instead backed Burnham's bid, easing some concern about a protracted and divisive leadership battle.
—
Gail Krishnan,
CNBC,
23 June 2026
While some experts, like Tom Hulick, remain optimistic, citing strong liquidity and AI's future earnings potential, others, including Jason Huang, question if this signals a buying opportunity or a more protracted downturn.
—
John Werner,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
The shootings have highlighted a protracted debate over Missouri’s gun laws, among the loosest in the nation, and local leaders’ yearslong struggle to combat homicides and fatal shootings.
—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
17 June 2026
Two people with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press that the four-time NFL MVP agreed to a one-year deal to return to the Steelers on Saturday, ending a protracted decision-making process.
—
Will Graves,
Chicago Tribune,
17 May 2026
Two people with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press that the four-time NFL MVP agreed to a one-year deal to return to Pittsburgh on Saturday, ending a protracted decision-making process.
—
ABC News,
16 May 2026
The already acrimonious relationship continued to sour amid a protracted and bitter legal battle, and as Dan started dating Kolkena, before eventually proposing to her.
—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2026
Verb
Last season, Van Hecke led the English top flight in line-breaking passes (457), a highly encouraging feat, considering Tottenham’s protracted struggles in building central possession through the thirds.
—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
20 June 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
The utilities, by offering to settle in return for an acknowledgment of Gillett’s decision-making, are agreeing to the dismissal – without costs to any party – of what was shaping up as protracted, costly and ultimately losing litigation for the state.
—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
28 May 2026
Russia’s war with Ukraine showed that wars could be protracted and require deep inventories of advanced weapons, Cancian said.
—
ABC News,
27 May 2026
And nobody has ever designed a reactor for the moon, a hostile volcanic desert subject to extreme temperature swings, frequent asteroid strikes and protracted quakes.
—
Robin George Andrews,
Scientific American,
19 May 2026
After some protracted legal drama, Subnautica 2 is finally about to launch.
—
Jay Peters,
The Verge,
30 Apr. 2026
The back-and-forth between Kehoe and Johnson offered a window into a yearslong, protracted debate over Missouri’s gun laws, among the loosest in the nation.
—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
29 Apr. 2026
Know More Hochstein noted that complex nuclear deals involve protracted negotiations on issues such as verification, enrichment levels, and reporting.
—
J.d. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
16 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for protracted
Adjective
-
But with prolonged heat exposure, the body begins diverting blood away from vital organs, causing organ failure and eventually death.
-
Research suggests prolonged exposure to extreme heat during pregnancy may increase the risk of certain complications.
Verb
-
Commissioning budgets have tightened, development cycles have lengthened and the opportunities for growing indies to scale have become increasingly limited.
-
The hunting season has been lengthened by nearly two months, and there is no bag limit on does.
Adjective
-
He was used to being alone without Robin and postretirement but being alone in the interminable stretch of predawn hours was a different sort of emptiness.
-
Long delays due to permitting bureaucracies at all levels of government and interminable litigation plague the sector despite efforts at reform.
Verb
-
Aerial video captured by ABC7 showed smoke rising from a smoldering truck as a long line of cars extended south of the incident.
-
After a two-month grace period — which Wellcare extended to three — Medicare drug plans can drop customers who don't pay their premiums, no matter how small the amount.
Adjective
-
The errand conveniently provided the opportunity for a longish highway test of Lexus’ newest luxury people-mover.
-
When the front door opens, they’re greeted by an androgynous person with longish hair, thick eyebrows and a deep voice.
Verb
-
Stars including Reese Witherspoon, Emma Stone and Paul Rudd were seen departing the venue after the festivities began Friday evening and stretched until the early hours of Saturday morning.
-
Brazil were energetic and vertical, Vinicius Junior and Rayan stretched their opponents and Gabriel Martinelli’s stoppage-time winner was just reward.
Adjective
-
This is a nearly two-and-a-half-hour film but Spielberg’s expert pacing keeps it from feeling overlong.
-
There was a parade of nations, perhaps overlong, but analogue and human-scale.
Verb
-
And Harleys has entirely redesigned the rear -suspension and increased its travel 117 per cent to five inches (13 cm).
-
The share of workers with hybrid schedules has increased a bit, while the share in fully remote positions has only seen a slight decline.
Cite this Entry
“Protracted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/protracted. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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