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Synonyms

protracted

American  
[proh-trak-tid, pruh‐] / proʊˈtræk tɪd, prə‐ /

adjective

  1. drawn out or lengthened in time; extended in duration.

    a protracted and bloody war.


protracted British  
/ prəˈtræktɪd /

adjective

  1. extended or lengthened in time; prolonged

    a protracted legal battle

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • protractedly adverb
  • protractedness noun

Etymology

Origin of protracted

First recorded in 1590–1600; protract ( def. ) + -ed 2 ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A protracted Iran conflict and continued high oil prices could mean the sun setting soon on gold’s rally, according to a strategist at UBS.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 30, 2026

It has been nothing but a headache for passengers, but some analysts believe Clear stands to benefit from a protracted government shutdown and the mayhem that comes with it.

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

Ineos blamed "a protracted negotiation" with Athena Racing - formed by Ainslie - claiming his team had caused a costly six-month delay to settlement talks.

From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026

A protracted war could weaken both the Middle East and Thailand patient flows for the hospital chain operator, the analyst says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

He told her that he realized that she had been under protracted great strain, and that he was sony about it.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey