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
Located in Santa Monica, the sleek, sprawling facility combines a private dog park with a café, bar and event space, offering a stylish retreat where dogs can play and their owners can network, grab a drink or just chill.
—
Avery Stone, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2025
In his final months in office, Biden’s administration drew up sprawling rules for exporting advanced computer chips used to develop AI systems.
—Byron Tau, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2025
Antonio Gates, a member of the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class, categorically denied any connection to the sprawling gambling scandal that sent shockwaves across the NBA and the sports world at larger.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2025
Nestled on the outskirts of Indianapolis in the suburban city of Fishers, the sprawling waterfront spread is listed for nearly $12 million with Joel Woelfle and Allen Williams of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 28 Oct. 2025
The analysts pointed to softer insurance investment income, weaker railroad growth and shrinking energy tax credits as mounting headwinds for Berkshire’s sprawling operations.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2025
The home boasts clean lines, a sprawling backyard featuring a fire pit and a pool, as well as a home gym.
—Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
Accommodations range from 312-square-foot Standard Rooms with a desk and floor-to-ceiling windows to the sprawling 1,048 Presidential Suite with a separate living room and eat-in kitchen.
—Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 22 Oct. 2025
In a sprawling complex near Shanghai, giant reactor pressure vessels are being continuously forged, ready to be shipped to new projects without delay.
—Brad Plumer, New York Times, 22 Oct. 2025
Avery Stone, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2025
In his final months in office, Biden’s administration drew up sprawling rules for exporting advanced computer chips used to develop AI systems.
—Byron Tau, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2025
Antonio Gates, a member of the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class, categorically denied any connection to the sprawling gambling scandal that sent shockwaves across the NBA and the sports world at larger.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2025
Nestled on the outskirts of Indianapolis in the suburban city of Fishers, the sprawling waterfront spread is listed for nearly $12 million with Joel Woelfle and Allen Williams of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 28 Oct. 2025
The analysts pointed to softer insurance investment income, weaker railroad growth and shrinking energy tax credits as mounting headwinds for Berkshire’s sprawling operations.
—Yun Li, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2025
The home boasts clean lines, a sprawling backyard featuring a fire pit and a pool, as well as a home gym.
—Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
Accommodations range from 312-square-foot Standard Rooms with a desk and floor-to-ceiling windows to the sprawling 1,048 Presidential Suite with a separate living room and eat-in kitchen.
—Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 22 Oct. 2025
In a sprawling complex near Shanghai, giant reactor pressure vessels are being continuously forged, ready to be shipped to new projects without delay.
—Brad Plumer, New York Times, 22 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sprawling
Verb
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China’s Seafaring History (Smithsonian Magazine) by Sean Kingsley China has a history of maritime trade extending to West Africa, the Mediterranean, and much of Asia that goes back to the first millennium.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
29 Oct. 2025
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Kansas City Chiefs rookie left tackle Josh Simmons missed his third straight game Monday night against the Washington Commanders, extending an absence from the team that began in mid-October.—
Pete Sweeney,
Kansas City Star,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Chamber, historically aligned with Republican administrations, rarely challenges policies from a sitting GOP president.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
-
While sitting front row at the event, Paltrow could be seen wearing a white skirt with a matching white cowl-neck top.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The key people in Haiti hold diverging views on whether to maintain or modify the current transitional governance arrangement, Guterres said.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
22 Oct. 2025
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In a joint interview, Allen and Moretz spoke with Them about the work of taking a character like Maddie from page to stage, and about diverging from traditional trans narratives to tell a new kind of family story.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them.,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Van Gogh, now visually fitting in with his family, then scampered about his habitat with his ears flopping along with him.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
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With Ares flopping, the insider says Leto’s currency in town has run colder than Morbius’ vampire blood.—
Pamela McClintock,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In 2025, Ohtani is likely to earn another MVP award, adding to his ever-expanding trophy cabinet.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
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Environmental advocates question the need for expanding fossil fuel resources a time when greenhouse gases from those fuels are worsening climate change.—
Sarah Henry,
AZCentral.com,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In post-Matrix mode, Reeves tries to launch another franchise in a DC Comics adaptation about a man who can see spirits on Earth and is doomed to atone for a suicide attempt by straddling the divide twixt Heaven and Hell.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
18 Oct. 2025
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Look at The Market Place, a 130-store shopping center just off the 5 Freeway straddling Irvine and Tustin.—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The green leaves radiating from the base of each dandelion.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Oct. 2025
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Comet Lemmon's tail was formed when heat radiating from the sun caused icy materials embedded in its ancient body to transform directly into gas, a process known as sublimation.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Maintaining the tugboat became cumbersome, and three Zizian members opted to move into box trucks before squatting in a Bay Area trailer lot owned by Curtis Lind, then age 80, a former shipworker and grandfather of four.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Oct. 2025
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His income is uncertain, and he’s been living with Bennett, a younger drinking buddy who, in turn, is basically squatting in his dead aunt’s apartment.—
Willing Davidson,
New Yorker,
19 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sprawling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sprawling. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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