1
as in extended
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 sat
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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Recent Examples of sprawled
Ilia Malinin sprawled out on the ice, his arms spread wide.
—
Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Flat irons, curling wands, hair dryers, and beard trimmers are also often found sprawled across bathroom counters, especially during busy mornings.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Jan. 2026
Velvet curtains flank the floor-to-ceiling windows for some earthy contrast, while a long sectional sofa invites you to spend a relaxing night sprawled out in front of the TV.
—Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 16 Dec. 2025
In one photo, the pregnant mom could be seen sprawled on a daybed in her bathroom, wearing a brown and white striped sweater tucked up to show her growing belly.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 5 Dec. 2025
When everyone is a fan favorite, no one is expendable, which is why the cast has sprawled out to such an unmanageable extent.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 27 Nov. 2025
De la Fressange posed with guests sprawled on a double bed.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 25 Nov. 2025
Suddenly, the 6-foot-5 Danish defender was sprawled on the turf ravaged by a record rainfall and Diouf was heading unabated to goal.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Nov. 2025
After being sprawled out across the globe, the team is back together for the fight of their lives.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Nov. 2025
Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Flat irons, curling wands, hair dryers, and beard trimmers are also often found sprawled across bathroom counters, especially during busy mornings.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Jan. 2026
Velvet curtains flank the floor-to-ceiling windows for some earthy contrast, while a long sectional sofa invites you to spend a relaxing night sprawled out in front of the TV.
—Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 16 Dec. 2025
In one photo, the pregnant mom could be seen sprawled on a daybed in her bathroom, wearing a brown and white striped sweater tucked up to show her growing belly.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 5 Dec. 2025
When everyone is a fan favorite, no one is expendable, which is why the cast has sprawled out to such an unmanageable extent.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 27 Nov. 2025
De la Fressange posed with guests sprawled on a double bed.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 25 Nov. 2025
Suddenly, the 6-foot-5 Danish defender was sprawled on the turf ravaged by a record rainfall and Diouf was heading unabated to goal.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Nov. 2025
After being sprawled out across the globe, the team is back together for the fight of their lives.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sprawled
Verb
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In a statement, the NFL confirmed that support has been extended to the Cowboys during this difficult time.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Row between stores The backlash towards Shein has extended beyond demonstrations on the street and government probes.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Levi Jones, a 33-year-old business owner, pulled up to Sacred Eye Tattoos in Hollywood last week and sat for eight hours getting a photorealistic black-and-white portrait of Mangione on his leg.—
Amanda Rosa,
Orlando Sentinel,
24 Dec. 2024
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The birthday boy and his big sister Sterling Skye, 3, each sat between one of their parents’ laps.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
24 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Lam kept making new highs while RSI diverged lower.—
Josh Brown,Sean Russo,
CNBC,
2 Jan. 2026
-
But the school left the conference in the 1960s as its academic ambitions and football capabilities diverged.—
Becky Sullivan,
NPR,
19 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Early experiments, like the Humane AI pin, have flopped due to high prices and poor performance.—
Nicholas Gordon,
Fortune,
6 Jan. 2026
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The huge painting of the naked woman flopped on a couch?—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Farther south, more stormwater treatment areas, 97 square miles of them in all, are scattered between the sugarcane and vegetable fields that make the EAA among the most bountiful regions in the nation and the fragile Everglades.—
Amy Green,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
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But the most compelling aspect of these eight episodes, set a year after Industry sold off the Pierpoint bank that once employed most of its characters and scattered them to London’s various elite cloisters, is the sense that money has never really been the point of the show.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In that pic, Fletcher lounged on the end, giving a thumbs up.—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
23 Oct. 2025
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As the action took place, the fashionable crowd lounged on the beautifully landscaped outdoor dining area, grazing on the pies and taking pictures of the sea.—
Jacqui Gifford,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The vessel had patrolled during the same years as the Growler but, in 1961, suffered a reactor incident that radiated its crew.—
Robert Sullivan,
New Yorker,
5 Jan. 2026
-
The excitement Moses radiated served as testament to Rhett Lashlee’s assessment of his roster coming together to finish out the season, even after the disappointment of falling short of a return ACC Championship Game appearance.—
Kyle Kensing,
Dallas Morning News,
3 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Engage the core to help keep the lower spine curvature neutral and not rounded or slouched.—
Mark Gurarie,
Verywell Health,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Bichette, the bat taken out of his hand, slouched back to the bench.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sprawled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sprawled. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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