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
One viral Instagram clip posted by Pier 39 showed the sea lion sprawled across a dock while tourists gathered nearby to watch.
—
Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 8 May 2026
Not long into their humiliation of the Hawks, Jalen Brunson sprawled out for a loose ball.
—Matt Moret, New York Times, 7 May 2026
Over more than a year, the conflict sprawled into a series of lawsuits, countersuits and public claims that drew intense attention in Hollywood and touched on broader questions about workplace conduct and retaliation in the post-#MeToo era.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026
The photo sees the German-South African model wearing a pink gingham top that matches the tablecloth sprawled out beneath an array of foods — and a live chicken — in front of her.
—Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
Some third graders focused on drawing pictures as several students sprawled across a rug at the front of the classroom.
—Noah Alcala Bach, San Antonio Express-News, 22 Apr. 2026
Against the Denver Nuggets on March 14, James sprawled across the floor for a loose ball and forced a tie-up that eventually helped lead to the Lakers tying the game in regulation before winning in overtime.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 6 Apr. 2026
The bear sprawled across one of the carcasses, watching the wolves leave.
—Frank Glaser, Outdoor Life, 1 Apr. 2026
In a TikTok video shared on Thursday under the username @hazy_bmd, the puppy, Hazel, is seen enjoying a quiet moment in the living room, she is sprawled out watching television, surrounded by toys of all sizes, and wearing a pink diaper—an image that quickly sets the lighthearted tone of the clip.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 8 May 2026
Not long into their humiliation of the Hawks, Jalen Brunson sprawled out for a loose ball.
—Matt Moret, New York Times, 7 May 2026
Over more than a year, the conflict sprawled into a series of lawsuits, countersuits and public claims that drew intense attention in Hollywood and touched on broader questions about workplace conduct and retaliation in the post-#MeToo era.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026
The photo sees the German-South African model wearing a pink gingham top that matches the tablecloth sprawled out beneath an array of foods — and a live chicken — in front of her.
—Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
Some third graders focused on drawing pictures as several students sprawled across a rug at the front of the classroom.
—Noah Alcala Bach, San Antonio Express-News, 22 Apr. 2026
Against the Denver Nuggets on March 14, James sprawled across the floor for a loose ball and forced a tie-up that eventually helped lead to the Lakers tying the game in regulation before winning in overtime.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 6 Apr. 2026
The bear sprawled across one of the carcasses, watching the wolves leave.
—Frank Glaser, Outdoor Life, 1 Apr. 2026
In a TikTok video shared on Thursday under the username @hazy_bmd, the puppy, Hazel, is seen enjoying a quiet moment in the living room, she is sprawled out watching television, surrounded by toys of all sizes, and wearing a pink diaper—an image that quickly sets the lighthearted tone of the clip.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sprawled
Verb
-
This and that With his double, Lopez extended his hit streak to nine games.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
7 May 2026
-
Fitbit users who haven’t migrated their data to a Google account by May 19 will no longer be able to access the platform, a deadline that was extended from February.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
7 May 2026
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
-
Two Paths Toward the Same Problem After college, their paths diverged.—
NIa Bowers,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
-
More expensive oil has hurt airlines in particular because of the industry’s already big fuel bills, and stocks diverged in the industry following the latest profit reports.—
Stan Choe,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Steve flopped his head down on the table.—
Geoffrey Cain,
Vanity Fair,
11 May 2026
-
Part one flopped at the box office in 2016.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
All those pieces of myself, scattered across a digital ocean, chewed up and spit out in less than 60 seconds.—
Erin Entrada Kelly,
PEOPLE,
11 May 2026
-
Mishra placed metallic embroidery in irregular vine-like sections down the skirt, heavier at the front panels and hem, with small crystal dots scattered through the tulle.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
But most of the action was in the foot-deep children’s pool, where Petra joined babies and kids riding mini slides into the warm water, as parents lounged unselfconsciously.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Apr. 2026
-
As Polis prepared to sign the bill, five black-and-white, 13-week-old puppies — Benedict, Daphne, Violet, Eloise and Hyacinth — lounged, climbed over one another, leaned into a reporter’s mic and cuddled in a pair of pens on the Capitol foyer’s floor.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Pain that radiated from your wrist into your thumb or forearm.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
-
While fellow first-round pick Malachi Lawrence will mostly be contained to an outside linebacker role, the versatility theme radiated into day two when the Cowboys took Michigan linebacker Jaishawn Barham in the third round over a group of other talented defenders.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Her wedge of baked Alaska slouched on the plate like a children’s book illustration meant to convey sadness.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Silk pajama pants slouched over Wales Bonner loafers.—
Tyler Matthew Oyer
Feb. 27,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sprawled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sprawled. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
