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
Aldis Hodge is back as DC homicide detective/forensic psychologist Alex Cross in Prime’s relatively boilerplate adaptation of Patterson’s sprawling crime series.
—
Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
The entry level rooms are a bit dated, though the addition of Alpine Suites in 2017 brought a sexy and spacious room category to the premises—each of them comes with spa showers, a fireplace, and sprawling mountain views.
—Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Feb. 2026
To address sprawling developments, Steyer wants more homes built near public transportation or in walkable communities.
—Linh Tat, Daily News, 1 Feb. 2026
His relationship with film is inextricably linked with his home town, Recife—a port city where attractive beaches and high-rise developments coexist with sprawling favelas and rampant crime.
—Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
The Trumps retreated to Mar-A-Lago, the family's sprawling resort in Palm Beach, Florida and lived their private lives.
—Jay Stahl, USA Today, 1 Feb. 2026
All of the teams’ coaches and players must be on hand for the sprawling media night event in San Jose on Monday.
—Matt Barrows, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
But Bobrovsky stoned him with a sprawling glove save, one of his best in recent weeks.
—Adam Beasley, Miami Herald, 1 Feb. 2026
The lush gardens are spread across about a dozen acres and feature a mix of styles, including a traditional Valencian space with Moorish influences, sprawling greenhouses, and pergolas covered in swaths of roses.
—Liz Provencher, Travel + Leisure, 9 Jan. 2026
Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
The entry level rooms are a bit dated, though the addition of Alpine Suites in 2017 brought a sexy and spacious room category to the premises—each of them comes with spa showers, a fireplace, and sprawling mountain views.
—Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Feb. 2026
To address sprawling developments, Steyer wants more homes built near public transportation or in walkable communities.
—Linh Tat, Daily News, 1 Feb. 2026
His relationship with film is inextricably linked with his home town, Recife—a port city where attractive beaches and high-rise developments coexist with sprawling favelas and rampant crime.
—Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
The Trumps retreated to Mar-A-Lago, the family's sprawling resort in Palm Beach, Florida and lived their private lives.
—Jay Stahl, USA Today, 1 Feb. 2026
All of the teams’ coaches and players must be on hand for the sprawling media night event in San Jose on Monday.
—Matt Barrows, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
But Bobrovsky stoned him with a sprawling glove save, one of his best in recent weeks.
—Adam Beasley, Miami Herald, 1 Feb. 2026
The lush gardens are spread across about a dozen acres and feature a mix of styles, including a traditional Valencian space with Moorish influences, sprawling greenhouses, and pergolas covered in swaths of roses.
—Liz Provencher, Travel + Leisure, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sprawling
Verb
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In fact, extending the lives of the sick and elderly can impose net costs on society’s ledgers, costs which government regulatory analyses typically ignore.—
James Broughel,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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The court said the injunction effectively amounted to a universal injunction by extending relief to a sweeping, uncertified class of protesters and observers.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Klobuchar becomes the fourth sitting senator to announce plans to run for governor in 2026.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
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As Tara runs up to grab one of the antidotes, her best friend Johnny (who is sitting beside it) reaches over and grabs it, then hands it down the table to Kristen.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But amid big swings in equity markets on geopolitical headlines, macro uncertainty, and central bank interest rate policies around the world that are diverging, the classic advice to seek diversification in a portfolio and make tweaks on the margins may lead to a little extra juice in 2026 returns.—
Krysta Escobar,Eric Rosenbaum,
CNBC,
23 Jan. 2026
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Nearly six years later, the gap between the top and bottom of the K is still diverging.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Stiller’s character attempts to match the athletic feat in a heated rage by climbing high and belly-flopping right onto a drum kit as the music powers on.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
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Perspectives 🏁 The viral video of a Kansas referee seemingly flopping during a high school girl’s basketball game is a bad look.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Camp Lucy, a Texas Wine Country resort, is also expanding with the debut of Folklore, a new spa experience blending wellness, color therapy and social connection.—
Laura Begley Bloom,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Levine Cava also pointed to Miami-Dade's expanding economy, fueled in part by major international events such as Formula One races at Hard Rock Stadium and upcoming FIFA World Cup matches.—
Nikiya Carrero,
CBS News,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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And being Basque seems to help — as well as the aforementioned duo, the likes of Unai Emery and Andoni Iraola come from that region straddling the Spanish/French border.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
24 Jan. 2026
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The early-2000s-set pic explores the experience of straddling multiple cultures.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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An ice dam occurs when the snow piled on your roof begins to melt from the sun or the heat radiating from your home.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
27 Jan. 2026
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The classic, expensive-looking accessory instantly dresses up any outfit, with the intricate design radiating luxury and elegance.—
Kaelin Dodge,
InStyle,
17 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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
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Ziani’s sessions require sitting in a squatting position throughout the process.—
Jared Weiss,
New York Times,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sprawling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sprawling. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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