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
Stepping up to this Samsung 32-inch work monitor will feel like your digital life finally moved out of a studio apartment and into a sprawling loft.
—
Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026
Later this year, Immigration and Customs Enforcement will begin operating a sprawling detention center out of what is currently an empty industrial warehouse.
—Lautaro Grinspan, AJC.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Michael Winterbottom followed in 2023 with Shoshana (a film that premiered a full month before the horrors of October 7), and last year saw Cherien Dabis’s sprawling epic All That’s Left of You make the Oscar shortlist.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2026
His London show, for example, featured a sprawling list, including Coki, Nia Archives, Mala, Skream, and Underworld.
—Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sprawl
Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026
Later this year, Immigration and Customs Enforcement will begin operating a sprawling detention center out of what is currently an empty industrial warehouse.
—Lautaro Grinspan, AJC.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Michael Winterbottom followed in 2023 with Shoshana (a film that premiered a full month before the horrors of October 7), and last year saw Cherien Dabis’s sprawling epic All That’s Left of You make the Oscar shortlist.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2026
His London show, for example, featured a sprawling list, including Coki, Nia Archives, Mala, Skream, and Underworld.
—Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sprawl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sprawl
Verb
-
Edwards extended his hit streak to five games during Tuesday evening’s 9-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox, going 2 for 4 with a pair of singles.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Eighth-grader Ella Parece dealt a complete-game shutout, pairing with a two-RBI performance from Bella Bourque to help Taunton (2-0) extend its win streak to 58 games with a 5-0 Hockomock League victory over Attleboro.—
Tyler McManus,
Boston Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Eastern and western ancestries in Karelian Mesolithic dogs suggest that two lineages diverged during the Paleolithic.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The survey demonstrated residents had diverging views on what McCarty’s ballot measure hoped to address.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
These learnings now sit at the foundation of the Buahan concept and not only ensure that the hotel leaves a positive impact on the community, but also provide guests a level of immersion into the Balinese way of life that few other hotels of this caliber have managed to deliver.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Presidential libraries are one of the few ways sitting presidents can solicit foreign donations — without ever having to disclose their donors.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
With the 2026 midterms approaching, sustained voter unease could reshape the broader electoral map and complicate Republican efforts to hold or expand their congressional margins.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
But the department is looking to expand its authority.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But that effort has flopped, because the SAVE America Act doesn't have the votes to pass in the Senate.—
Chris Brennan,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Girlfriend scales the diaristic, bric-a-brac charm of Janky Star into a high-drama pop monument to trying, flopping, and trying even harder next time.—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In the Project Hail Mary universe, all life in our solar system’s sector of the Milky Way comes from an ancient ancestor of Astrophage that long ago radiated out from Tau Ceti, Weir says.—
Emma Gometz,
Scientific American,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Those words — simple, dignified, and private — feel fitting for a man whose on-screen persona radiated quiet strength and unwavering principle.—
Hanna Wickes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
So does the bar and lounge Peacock Alley.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Margot has raked in the coin in her successful career, and a simple clean offing of one on whom no love is lost can ensure Tony will enjoy years of lounging with lots of savory bourbon by his side.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
After beating Atlanta last Friday without Jaylen Brown and Charlotte on Sunday without Brown and Derrick White, Boston flopped in a rematch with the Hawks, losing 112-102 without a crew of contributors headlined by a resting Jayson Tatum.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The project has dragged on for four years, and Belinda Hernandez-Arriaga, founder of a farmworker advocacy group called ALAS, said the problem at 555 Kelly rests at the local level.—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sprawl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sprawl. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
