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.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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.
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 sprawled
Sasaki was the necessary answer on Monday night, coming in to secure the final out and avoid disaster as Freddie Freeman sprawled out to grab Tommy Edman’s final throw to first base.
—
Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
While seven dogs can be seen sprawled across the floor and sofa, sound asleep, owner Erika Reiley’s cockapoo sits upright, watching in confusion.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Most mornings, Rensch would find the man sprawled naked on a bed, and would dutifully fix him the day’s first screwdriver.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
The proverbial kings of the jungle once sprawled out as a pride, a rare occurrence in captivity, garnering millions of fans, but now their enclosure will sit empty — at least for now.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
With nearby MPs training their guns on her, Ziva laid down her weapon and sprawled across the blacktop, looking up at a confused Tali.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 4 Sep. 2025
McLeod is issuing rapid instructions to her 7-year-old daughter Ella, who is sprawled on her back on a bedroom floor.
—Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2025
Among the many exhibits sprawled across the castle's lawn, the USS Enterprise from the popular sci-fi series 'Star Trek,' was particularly eye-catching.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Responding officers found Thoral sprawled on the street with injuries throughout his body.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 21 Aug. 2025
Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
While seven dogs can be seen sprawled across the floor and sofa, sound asleep, owner Erika Reiley’s cockapoo sits upright, watching in confusion.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Most mornings, Rensch would find the man sprawled naked on a bed, and would dutifully fix him the day’s first screwdriver.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
The proverbial kings of the jungle once sprawled out as a pride, a rare occurrence in captivity, garnering millions of fans, but now their enclosure will sit empty — at least for now.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
With nearby MPs training their guns on her, Ziva laid down her weapon and sprawled across the blacktop, looking up at a confused Tali.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 4 Sep. 2025
McLeod is issuing rapid instructions to her 7-year-old daughter Ella, who is sprawled on her back on a bedroom floor.
—Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2025
Among the many exhibits sprawled across the castle's lawn, the USS Enterprise from the popular sci-fi series 'Star Trek,' was particularly eye-catching.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Responding officers found Thoral sprawled on the street with injuries throughout his body.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sprawled
Verb
-
By then Carolina had extended its advantage to two thanks again to Jarvis, who capitalized on the visitors’ third power play – hooking by Jackson LaCombe – with a one-time wrist shot from the right circle for his sixth goal of the season.—
Josh Gross,
Oc Register,
17 Oct. 2025
-
McGee led me through moves like Pilates 100s, crunches with rows, and full crunches (with my legs extended).—
Maggie Ryan,
Flow Space,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
Trump weighs in on Netanyahu criminal case Trump diverged from his prepared remarks to the Knesset to call on Israel’s president to pardon Netanyahu, who faces three criminal charges.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
13 Oct. 2025
-
The films diverged from his usual filmography, and Condon reveled in that.—
Jessica Wang,
Entertainment Weekly,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This drama — a remake of an Oscar-winning Argentine film — flopped mightily upon release, but Roberts was quite compelling in it.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Two years later, the two companies launched a humanoid robot called Pepper — a bet that ultimately flopped, but robotics has now re-emerged as a key focus for the Japanese giant.—
Arjun Kharpal,
CNBC,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Driftwood tent shelters appear marooned like shipwrecks, and the beach is scattered with the bones of the giant whales.—
Chloe Berge,
AFAR Media,
15 Oct. 2025
-
The job reductions are scattered throughout NBC News.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
Throughout their trip, Gomez and her friends lounged on the beach and dressed up in matching sweatsuits.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The self-reflective tone marks a thematic shift for a band whose debut radiated a cool irony, pulling emotional punches in favor of observations centered around mid-20s delusion.—
Sophie Williams,
Billboard,
10 Oct. 2025
-
The sting from the loss radiated off of him during his postgame news conference.—
Dan Duggan,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
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 21 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share