1
as in extending
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 sitting
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sprawling
Proposition 50 also split the sprawling district held by Kiley, a Republican from Rocklin, into six pieces, leaving the Northern California congressman and frequent Newsom critic with few good options.
—
Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Set within a sprawling Mediterranean estate dotted with olive trees, jasmine, and prickly pear, the property feels serene and secluded.
—Angela Tafoya, Vogue, 9 Mar. 2026
After being tucked away in a sprawling Upper East Side apartment for almost 60 years, a rare painting by Indian modernist Akbar Padamsee is going up for sale at Roland Auctions NY on March 28.
—Richard Johnson, New York Daily News, 8 Mar. 2026
The City Council is scheduled to approve complex agreements Tuesday that aim to cement the city’s ownership and control of the sprawling 20-year-old development and keep it away from the management company.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
Across the sprawling 13,000-square-foot residence, art, antiques, and collectible design objects come together in a confident mix informed by instinct, memory, and everyday use.
—Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2026
Emirates has been trying to get its sprawling travel network up and running after several days of halting flights due to the war.
—ABC News, 7 Mar. 2026
Ari Lauer is set to be sentenced Monday for assisting high-flying East Bay fraudsters Jeff and Paulette Carpoff and their company, DC Solar, pull off what the government says amounted to the largest criminal fraud scheme ever within the sprawling federal court district that includes Sacramento.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 6 Mar. 2026
Shell companies registered across Dubai's sprawling free zones have for years masked the origin of Iranian oil and commodities.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Set within a sprawling Mediterranean estate dotted with olive trees, jasmine, and prickly pear, the property feels serene and secluded.
—Angela Tafoya, Vogue, 9 Mar. 2026
After being tucked away in a sprawling Upper East Side apartment for almost 60 years, a rare painting by Indian modernist Akbar Padamsee is going up for sale at Roland Auctions NY on March 28.
—Richard Johnson, New York Daily News, 8 Mar. 2026
The City Council is scheduled to approve complex agreements Tuesday that aim to cement the city’s ownership and control of the sprawling 20-year-old development and keep it away from the management company.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
Across the sprawling 13,000-square-foot residence, art, antiques, and collectible design objects come together in a confident mix informed by instinct, memory, and everyday use.
—Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2026
Emirates has been trying to get its sprawling travel network up and running after several days of halting flights due to the war.
—ABC News, 7 Mar. 2026
Ari Lauer is set to be sentenced Monday for assisting high-flying East Bay fraudsters Jeff and Paulette Carpoff and their company, DC Solar, pull off what the government says amounted to the largest criminal fraud scheme ever within the sprawling federal court district that includes Sacramento.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 6 Mar. 2026
Shell companies registered across Dubai's sprawling free zones have for years masked the origin of Iranian oil and commodities.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sprawling
Verb
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The team can open up additional cap space by releasing, trading, restructuring or extending contracts.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Benchmark futures jumped as much as 30% on Monday, extending their biggest weekly advance since the energy crisis.—
Priscila Azevedo Rocha,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Snell threw 15 pitches — all fastballs — sitting between 87 to 89 mph.—
Jack Vita,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Joe Hakimian gestures toward the glittering rings sitting inside glass cases at his downtown jewelry shop, Hakimian Imports.—
Rebecca Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The firms had argued the orders unconstitutionally punished them for diverging with the administration and for upholding their clients' right to legal counsel.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
7 Mar. 2026
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Their genetics, as this new discovery shows, have been quietly diverging even when their bodies haven’t.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Both teams … the Heat and the Wizards … conspired with their flopping and intentional fouling to get him to 83.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Shawkat, with her warm, amused eyes and her mop of curls, is a perfect carrier for Mae’s air of abjection, flopping around her bed like a horny, gloomy Raggedy Ann.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Kaplan has long focused on public safety, expanding amenities and making streets safer.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The interesting twist on Miami’s case is their test balloon is being floated as the powers-that-be debate expanding the NCAA Tournament field.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Mary Bronstein’s movie defies genres, straddling domestic drama, thriller and comedy.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Goodland, is south of Mansfield, straddling Johnson and Ellis counties.—
Elizabeth Campbell,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But when Davis walked out of the bedroom, the smell of smoke and warmth radiating under her feet stopped her in her tracks.—
Olivia Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
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The team believes that this could mean coronae arise in abundance, radiating from tens to hundreds of leaves on every treetop during a single thunderstorm.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Vonn disclosed the injury a day after posting a video of herself squatting with a barbell in the gym.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
7 Feb. 2026
-
The man filming later walks into the parking lot, where body after body has been laid out on the asphalt with family members either standing or squatting nearby.—
Marin Scott,
NBC news,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sprawling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sprawling. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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