1
as in to extend
to extend outwards from or as if from a central point
The suburbs sprawl for miles beyond the city's downtown.
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2
as in to stretch (out)
to rest with the arms and legs spread out
There's no feeling like sprawling out on your bed after a hard day's work.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sprawl
All the living spaces open to a sprawling deck running the entire length of the house.
—
Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 15 May 2026
The restaurant, which seats 75 guests, sprawls across 11,500 square feet.
—Connie Ogle
may 15, Miami Herald, 15 May 2026
The sprawling 4180-square-foot space seats up to 128, with both indoor and outdoor options.
—Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 15 May 2026
Gautam Adani, chair of India's Adani Group, oversees a sprawling business empire spanning ports, power and infrastructure.
—Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sprawl
Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 15 May 2026
The restaurant, which seats 75 guests, sprawls across 11,500 square feet.
—Connie Ogle
may 15, Miami Herald, 15 May 2026
The sprawling 4180-square-foot space seats up to 128, with both indoor and outdoor options.
—Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 15 May 2026
Gautam Adani, chair of India's Adani Group, oversees a sprawling business empire spanning ports, power and infrastructure.
—Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sprawl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sprawl
Verb
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Morey also selected Maxey out of Kentucky, signed George in free agency and extended Embiid’s contract through the next three seasons.—
Tony Jones,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
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The Guardians had a five-run outburst in the third inning, taking advantage of four walks, to extend their lead to 7-0.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Verb
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But motivations diverge wildly at this stage of a season, making fixture difficulty tricky to assess.—
Ayo Akinwolere,
New York Times,
10 May 2026
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Charmed at first, Nella soon becomes confused and suspicious of her alleged ally as their approaches to racial bias and diversity begin to sharply diverge and the story, told through a past and present timeline, unravels with unexpected twists.—
Laura Zigman,
PEOPLE,
2 May 2026
Verb
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Set the scene The hotel sits along the Nile in Giza, just across the river from central Cairo.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 May 2026
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His modest velocity — Giolito has sat between the high 80s and low 90s in each start — is the main reason the Padres are tempering expectations for a pitcher whose contract stipulates he must be added to the big-league roster by Saturday.—
Dennis Lin,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
Verb
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There are numerous suites in the mix that expand upon the space, and anyone booking an executive category room enjoys access to the 25th-floor club lounge.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 May 2026
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Together, the movements reflected an apparent effort to insulate some of Iran's remaining military and aviation assets from the expanding conflict, even as officials publicly served as brokers for de-escalation.—
James LaPorta,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
Verb
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That flopped, as have all subsequent attempts to protect nature permanently and on a large scale through the use of markets.—
John Reid,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
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Rick Pitino, Billy Donovan, Brad Stevens, Fred Hoiberg, John Calipari, Tim Floyd, Lon Kruger, Mike Montgomery, Leonard Hamilton all left college to try the NBA, and most flopped.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 May 2026
Verb
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His palpable belief in fatherhood as a life’s work radiates off the screen.—
Vikram Murthi,
IndieWire,
15 May 2026
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Others radiate energy, clients, and momentum.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
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The home extends onto an expansive loggia with plenty of space for lounging and dining beside the heated infinity pool.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
15 May 2026
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Historically, Rostam solo albums are full of pensive and personal moments—reflections on life while taking long walks, weighing conflicted emotions while lounging in bed—and this one is no exception.—
Molly Mary O’Brien,
Pitchfork,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Flop down in your favorite blue armchair, rest a hand behind your head, and settle into a new week of Atlantic Trivia.—
Drew Goins,
The Atlantic,
11 May 2026
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After resting Monday, the Padres will visit the feisty Milwaukee Brewers for a three-game series.—
Dennis Lin,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sprawl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sprawl. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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