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
Chérizier, 48, who’s been actively meeting with former rivals, may be trying to duplicate the conditions in Carrefour, a sprawling suburb south of the capital where gangs now settle disputes, enact rules and profit from residents’ commercial activities.
—
Johnny Fils-Aimé, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2025
Instead of launching sprawling initiatives, teams focus on one clear use case.
—Kolawole Samuel Adebayo, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
But with a domestic premiere figure like that and global figures reaching as high as $187 million, the thrilling conclusion to the sprawling Conjuring universe may be coming for those crowns, too.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Sep. 2025
The new blueprint would lift that to 35 feet at Tecolote Creek, 40 feet at other urban villages and 65 feet at the city’s two main shopping areas — the Clairemont Town Square and the sprawling plazas where Balboa and Genesee Avenues intersect.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sprawl
Johnny Fils-Aimé, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2025
Instead of launching sprawling initiatives, teams focus on one clear use case.
—Kolawole Samuel Adebayo, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
But with a domestic premiere figure like that and global figures reaching as high as $187 million, the thrilling conclusion to the sprawling Conjuring universe may be coming for those crowns, too.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Sep. 2025
The new blueprint would lift that to 35 feet at Tecolote Creek, 40 feet at other urban villages and 65 feet at the city’s two main shopping areas — the Clairemont Town Square and the sprawling plazas where Balboa and Genesee Avenues intersect.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sprawl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sprawl
Verb
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The driller responsible for it, Patton Exploration, solicited companies to extend a pipeline to the oil well to capture the gas and evaluated whether the gas could be used to mine bitcoin.—
ProPublica,
ProPublica,
4 Sep. 2025
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Bullion hit fresh highs this week, with spot values extending their record run above the $3,500 mark into the middle of the week.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Following that incident, analysts wouldn’t rule out the possibility of Turkish-Israeli mock dogfights, not unlike the recurring Turkish-Greek ones over the Aegean Sea, occurring over Syria, especially if Israel and Turkey’s opposing policies in that country diverge even further.—
Paul Iddon,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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Their immigration statuses — and fates — diverge in dramatic ways that make their connection complicated.—
Jim Higgins,
jsonline.com,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Mariners sit two games ahead of the club for the third and final American League Wild Card spot.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
5 Sep. 2025
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Johnson then had a lengthy discussion with MLB’s replay office in New York before handing the bat to an authenticator sitting near the Yankees dugout.—
Brendan Kuty,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The tournament expanded from 24 teams to 32 at the start of the 1999-2000 season, with a second group stage then played before being replaced with the round of 16 in 2003-04.—
Will Jeanes,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
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This shift is reinforced by Russia’s push to expand its eastward infrastructure through the Power of Siberia pipelines cementing a more permanent divide in global energy markets.—
Earl Carr,
Forbes.com,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Since this season’s halcyon days -- a weekend home sweep of the Yankees that got Miami even at 55-55 -- the Fish have flopped at 10-22 .—
Greg Cote
September 7,
Miami Herald,
7 Sep. 2025
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Cellphone bill flop prompts finger-pointing Hall seized on the vote breakdown as an example of Democratic lawmakers out of step with Whitmer and out of touch with public support for cellphone restrictions at school.—
Clara Hendrickson,
Freep.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Gynecological Conditions Problems in the female reproductive organs can cause radiating pain to the lower right back.—
Brandi Jones,
Health,
6 Sep. 2025
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How to change a system with a prototype Walton and Makhija’s ambitions start locally, but quickly radiate outwards.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Most are more interested in diving than lounging at five-star resorts.—
Joe Sills,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
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The music producer celebrated his bachelor party with friends at Resorts World in Las Vegas, posting images on his Instagram Stories of fancy dinners out with the Vegas skyline in the back, along with lounging at a spa, eating caviar.—
Marina Watts,
People.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
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With its announcement post, however, the social media platform has put those concerns to rest.—
Jibin Joseph,
PC Magazine,
4 Sep. 2025
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Facing a three-run deficit against the Yankees’ rested bullpen, Houston scored six times and struck six hits against four relievers, taking the sort of at-bats that have been missing for so much of their inconsistent second half.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sprawl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sprawl. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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