SPRAWLING Synonyms: 83 Similar and Opposite Words

sprawling

verb

present participle of sprawl

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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Dissimilar Words

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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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 sprawling Georgia’s place in the national automotive ecosystem might be anchored by the likes of Hyundai and Kia, which operate sprawling factories here employing thousands, but Vintage Modern is finding its niche. — Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 10 July 2026 Huffman, who represents a sprawling slice of Northern California, reaching from the Bay Area to the Oregon border, is one of just four members (out of more than 500) who are openly agnostic or religiously unaffiliated. — Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026 Known for its sprawling waterfront cottages and lively social scene, Muskoka sets the stage as relationships, careers, and personal lives collide. — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 9 July 2026 Spanning roughly 6,500 square feet, the sprawling residence offers four bedrooms, four full bathrooms, and a powder room. — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 9 July 2026 And London’s famous Barbican, the Brutalist performance arts center and sprawling residential complex, is one of the stars of the film as well. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 9 July 2026 Bissinger’s Handcrafted Chocolatier, which has a location in Palm Beach and is planning another one in Boca Raton, just opened in a sprawling shopping complex off Interstate 75 on the state’s Gulf Coast. — Jason Dill july 9, Miami Herald, 9 July 2026 Grand aquifers, deepwater ports and the southeastern Gulf Stream add to the aquatic life of the sprawling nation. — John Werner, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 The Everglades, Florida's subtropical wilderness, are sprawling, biologically diverse and of great ecological and historical significance. — Sarah Perkel, USA Today, 8 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sprawling

Verb

States like Montana, North Dakota, and Minnesota are prime viewing locations for a G1 storm, with a G2 potentially extending visibility to states further south, including Oregon and New York.

— Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Despite its streamlined simplicity and modest spec, the Lightcamp is ultimately a more comprehensive conversion than the typical camper kit, extending into permanent base van modification.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 9 July 2026

Definition of extending

Verb

Victims of this manipulation scheme, Nathan and Aesha conspire to impose on the dinner’s seating arrangements in such a way that Luke is sitting next to Joy, and Gen is isolated at the end of the table.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 14 July 2026
Tens of thousands of pets ended up at poison control last year over one hazard sitting quietly in gardens, kitchens and living rooms.

— Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026

Definition of sitting

Verb

The diverging fortunes of the poorest and wealthiest Americans has emerged as a key theme in the US economy, and experts say AI is playing a significant role.

— Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
Different regions, given their diverging strengths and interests, face different challenges.

— Alois Zwinggi, Time, 24 June 2026

Definition of diverging

Verb

To solve the dearth of heirs, government ministers have proposed reinstating former branches of the royal family, thereby expanding the pool of male successors.

— Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
While Rodriguez and other supporters have pushed to preserve the unit, critics of expanding Sheriff’s Office funding argue that the county should instead invest in social and community services.

— Reeti Malhotra July 13, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2026

Definition of expanding

Verb

Since graduating from the YA fantasy series, Pattinson has become one of our most interesting actors, straddling the space between indie and mainstream filmmaking.

— Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 3 July 2026
The race’s start location means that the Pyrenees, straddling the French-Spanish border, are visited exceptionally early.

— Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 1 July 2026

Definition of straddling

Verb

Rumpled lengths ooze insouciance, radiating a can't-be-bothered energy that, for some, is far cooler than even the bounciest blowout.

— Calin Van Paris, InStyle, 4 July 2026
When P-waves start radiating from the earthquake underground, Android phones sense the vibrations, start collecting data and send it back to Google servers for processing.

— Amy Graff, New York Times, 27 June 2026

Definition of radiating

Verb

This can be avoided by squatting, stretching and loosening up your joints before jumping.

— BestReviews, Mercury News, 2 July 2026
Mahayahay Elementary School, located in the province of Davao Occidental, shared footage on social media showing frightened students squatting on the ground and then scurrying away when a canopy roof collapsed during the quake.

— David Chiu, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026

Definition of squatting

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“Sprawling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sprawling. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of sprawling

verb

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