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.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 sprawl
The two wings of Musk’s sprawling tech empire could merge ahead of a plan to take SpaceX public later this year, according to Reuters, which cited an anonymous source and recent company filings.
—
Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 29 Jan. 2026
As the most populous and sprawling county in the state, Fulton has often been tagged by Republicans as the bad egg among elections offices for its past record of long lines, late returns and sloppy bookkeeping.
—Patricia Murphy, AJC.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Their network is sprawling, often anonymous and with few overall objectives beyond helping immigrants, warning of approaching agents or filming videos to show the world what is happening.
—Tim Sullivan, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026
From the outside, the UN can seem like a sprawling stage of flags, formal statements, and meetings that appear to produce more acronyms than outcomes.
—Penny Abeywardena, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sprawl
Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 29 Jan. 2026
As the most populous and sprawling county in the state, Fulton has often been tagged by Republicans as the bad egg among elections offices for its past record of long lines, late returns and sloppy bookkeeping.
—Patricia Murphy, AJC.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Their network is sprawling, often anonymous and with few overall objectives beyond helping immigrants, warning of approaching agents or filming videos to show the world what is happening.
—Tim Sullivan, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026
From the outside, the UN can seem like a sprawling stage of flags, formal statements, and meetings that appear to produce more acronyms than outcomes.
—Penny Abeywardena, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sprawl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sprawl
Verb
-
The bill extends current DHS funding levels for two weeks to allow talks over new accountability requirements for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other enforcement agencies.—
Eric Lau,
Washington Post,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Her life of service extended beyond medicine.—
Najahe Sherman,
Miami Herald,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As a result, local madd leaders often supported sets of policy recommendations that diverged—or even conflicted—with the agendas of other chapters.—
Charles Duhigg,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Despite lacking a hippocampus entirely—and having diverged from the mammalian lineage roughly 400 million years ago—larval zebrafish display remarkably precise spatial navigation.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The restaurant has occupied the space for decades, sits steps from the ski lifts in Vail Village, and is a local favorite for skiers, tourists and locals alike.—
Spencer Wilson,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Video footage that circulated on social media shows the tourist lying motionless on the snowy ground, with the leopard sitting nearby.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Jennie headlined Coachella as a solo artist while expanding her fashion ventures.—
Hannah Abraham,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
In recent years, auction houses have expanded their categories as luxury goods and collectibles have helped buoy their sales.—
Jacqui Palumbo,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Trump loyalists flop all the time and live to flop once more.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Stiller’s character attempts to match the athletic feat in a heated rage by climbing high and belly-flopping right onto a drum kit as the music powers on.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
An ice dam occurs when the snow piled on your roof begins to melt from the sun or the heat radiating from your home.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Blue tangs radiate different colors, depending on their moods.—
Tristan Rutherford,
Robb Report,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The pieces are made of a soft, wrinkle-resistant material that’s comfortable for traveling or lounging at home.—
Isabel Garcia,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Over at the three tiers of pools during a late spring weekend visit, couples in stylish swimsuits lounged around the adult’s only pool, groups of friends sipped margs while wading in the main Mother-of-Pearl pool, and kids frolicked in the separate splash pad area.—
Lizbeth Scordo,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Warriors were playing without starters Stephen Curry (knee) and Draymond Green (back), while Minnesota's Anthony Edwards was a late scratch to rest a recurring right foot injury.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Another reason is that sectors of the US economy continue to rest on an implicit bargain between the government, employers, and migrants.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sprawl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sprawl. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
