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
Nothing in the room, which for most 6-year-olds would feature toys flung aside and clothes sprawled on the carpet, was accidental.
—
Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2026
They were charged after a 2009 FBI and Cook County sheriff’s office investigation revealed 1,500 bones of at least 29 people sprawled across the grounds at Alsip’s Burr Oak Cemetery — the same cemetery where lynching victim Emmett Till is buried.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
Miles Bridges, along with Duren and Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart, got tossed out in the third quarter following a lengthy brawl that sprawled across nearly an entire half of the court.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 10 Feb. 2026
The company’s Dance Reflections festival sprawled across the city’s theatres for months, evidence of a level of sponsorship and sparkle rarely seen in the field.
—Brian Seibert, New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2026
Around the perimeter of the living room, all four members of Ratboys are sprawled on sofas and lounge chairs watching Pluto TV’s free Vevo channels, a nonstop rotation of music videos not unlike MTV’s heyday.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 29 Jan. 2026
The sea lions sprawled across the docks have become one of San Francisco’s most endearing—and unexpected—attractions.
—Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Terra and Frisbie’s original plan proposed more than 1,100 apartments, a hotel, 250,000 square feet of office space and 85,000 square feet of retail sprawled across all 30 acres between West Palmetto Park Road and Northwest First Avenue.
—Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 20 Jan. 2026
Moments later, as the petite former actress’ body lay sprawled on roadway, she was struck again, this time by the driver of a black-and-gray sedan, with her body then being dragged by the car.
—Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 18 Jan. 2026
Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2026
They were charged after a 2009 FBI and Cook County sheriff’s office investigation revealed 1,500 bones of at least 29 people sprawled across the grounds at Alsip’s Burr Oak Cemetery — the same cemetery where lynching victim Emmett Till is buried.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
Miles Bridges, along with Duren and Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart, got tossed out in the third quarter following a lengthy brawl that sprawled across nearly an entire half of the court.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 10 Feb. 2026
The company’s Dance Reflections festival sprawled across the city’s theatres for months, evidence of a level of sponsorship and sparkle rarely seen in the field.
—Brian Seibert, New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2026
Around the perimeter of the living room, all four members of Ratboys are sprawled on sofas and lounge chairs watching Pluto TV’s free Vevo channels, a nonstop rotation of music videos not unlike MTV’s heyday.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 29 Jan. 2026
The sea lions sprawled across the docks have become one of San Francisco’s most endearing—and unexpected—attractions.
—Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Terra and Frisbie’s original plan proposed more than 1,100 apartments, a hotel, 250,000 square feet of office space and 85,000 square feet of retail sprawled across all 30 acres between West Palmetto Park Road and Northwest First Avenue.
—Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 20 Jan. 2026
Moments later, as the petite former actress’ body lay sprawled on roadway, she was struck again, this time by the driver of a black-and-gray sedan, with her body then being dragged by the car.
—Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 18 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sprawled
Verb
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Her star turn had helped turn the Trojans around in recent weeks, powering a season-long win streak that was extended to six with a 66-59 victory over Wisconsin on Thursday.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
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Playing at Anfield a day after Arsenal extended its lead to nine points, Pep Guardiola’s chasers simply couldn't afford not to win.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Feb. 2026
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
-
This is where our storylines diverged.—
Annabelle Gurwitch,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Different legal paths Although the four men were swept into the same investigation, their legal histories diverged — a distinction that will likely shape any effort to obtain restitution.—
Tony Plohetski,
Austin American Statesman,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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He and most of the Cluely staff were flopped on a single sofa.—
Sam Kriss,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
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But the new uniforms flopped spectacularly upon their debut in spring training, with players complaining that the jerseys looked cheap, felt papery and that the names on the back were too small.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Young customers cite frustration with subscription fatigue and content scattered across platforms, viewing physical media ownership as a form of cultural rebellion.—
Cerys Davies,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
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These Winter Olympics were the most spread-out in history, with four venues hosting speedskating, hockey and figure skating in the city’s outskirts while the rest of the Games’ 12 sports were scattered across difficult-to-reach mountain towns hours away.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Just days after hard-launching her relationship with French filmmaker Romain Gavras, EmRata lounged in a plunging plush white robe while wearing nothing but some sparkling loud luxury accessories.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
25 Feb. 2026
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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
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Within just two million years of the Great Dying, these animals had already conquered diverse global niches — showing how quickly life rebounded and radiated following the planet’s most severe mass extinction.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Feb. 2026
-
The Desmond Tutu smile radiated.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Some slouched in couch chairs, trading stories in a game of Dungeons & Dragons.—
Kate Armanini,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
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Engage the core to help keep the lower spine curvature neutral and not rounded or slouched.—
Mark Gurarie,
Verywell Health,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sprawled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sprawled. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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