1
as in extends
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 sits
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 sprawls
Set the scene Ninety minutes from Lisbon and sitting just shy of the Spanish border, this 200-year-old estate sprawls over 780 hectares in Portugal’s sparsely populated agricultural heartland.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Apr. 2026
The city of Los Angeles sprawls across roughly 500 square miles, creating logistical hurdles if nothing else for a candidate seeking citywide office from a remote location, noted Democratic political consultant Mike Trujillo.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
The main home’s primary suite sprawls across two levels, with room for a private office, gym, or library.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2026
Stripped back to just Stephen O’Malley and Greg Anderson, the drone-metal titans explore the minutiae of microtonal vibrations on an album that sprawls like land art.
—Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 4 Apr. 2026
According to the European Avalanche Warning Services (EAWS), at least 99 people have died since October 2025, mostly in the Alps — the mountain range that serves as the continent’s skiing hub and sprawls across several countries including France, Italy, Switzerland and Austria.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 22 Feb. 2026
The metro sprawls across two states and multiple counties, each running its own assessment playbook.
—Allison Palmer
updated February 20, Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2026
Evergreen sprawls like old Bisbee, improvised.
—Masha Hamilton, Longreads, 19 Feb. 2026
Seating sprawls out openly from the bar and music is kept low, all efforts to encourage conversation and communion among neighbors and guests.
—Anna Lee Iijima, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Apr. 2026
The city of Los Angeles sprawls across roughly 500 square miles, creating logistical hurdles if nothing else for a candidate seeking citywide office from a remote location, noted Democratic political consultant Mike Trujillo.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
The main home’s primary suite sprawls across two levels, with room for a private office, gym, or library.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2026
Stripped back to just Stephen O’Malley and Greg Anderson, the drone-metal titans explore the minutiae of microtonal vibrations on an album that sprawls like land art.
—Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 4 Apr. 2026
According to the European Avalanche Warning Services (EAWS), at least 99 people have died since October 2025, mostly in the Alps — the mountain range that serves as the continent’s skiing hub and sprawls across several countries including France, Italy, Switzerland and Austria.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 22 Feb. 2026
The metro sprawls across two states and multiple counties, each running its own assessment playbook.
—Allison Palmer
updated February 20, Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2026
Evergreen sprawls like old Bisbee, improvised.
—Masha Hamilton, Longreads, 19 Feb. 2026
Seating sprawls out openly from the bar and music is kept low, all efforts to encourage conversation and communion among neighbors and guests.
—Anna Lee Iijima, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sprawls
Verb
-
Lululemon’s scrutiny extends beyond regulators.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The Package For travelers booking the Aero–Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea package, the experience extends beyond the flight and hotel stay.—
Susmita Baral,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Inside, a fuzzy white possum, seduced by cat food, sits, befuddled.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
19 Apr. 2026
-
The Uptown location, which sits close to Hennepin Avenue and 36th Street in Minneapolis, served 402 clients last year.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But Ciddi argued Turkey's current trajectory increasingly diverges from alliance priorities.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
1 Apr. 2026
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Where the story diverges is the way New Edition combined hip-hop, R&B, and old-school doo-wop to create new jack swing.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Somebody who is just living greatness and never rests on that laurel but is always pushing herself to expand as an artist.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
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And never rests on that laurel but is always pushing herself to expand as an artist.—
Yi-Jin Yu,
ABC News,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Symptoms differ from strokes caused by a blockage in the brain, as a spinal stroke causes pain in the neck or back that radiates through the limbs, muscle weakness or numbness, incontinence and loss of sensation, such as feeling touch or temperature changes.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
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Jonathan Groff radiates from within.—
Sutton Foster,
Time,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The city of New London, which straddles Waupaca and Outagamie counties, urgently requested volunteers for sandbagging efforts Friday morning.—
Briana Waxman,
CNN Money,
17 Apr. 2026
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The latter will show exactly where your boundary lines fall and whether the fence sits on one side or straddles the line.—
Sheila Kim,
The Spruce,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Fortunately for shareholders, the stock grants come with a feature similar to equity options that somewhat reduces Musk’s payday, especially in a case like the one above where the plan flops.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
29 Nov. 2025
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Amina blows her mom a kiss and then flops down in her crib, pretending to be asleep.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The effortlessly cool shape sits low on the hips, with a shorter inseam that slouches through a subtle, flattering drape.—
Kristina Rutkowski,
Footwear News,
22 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sprawls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sprawls. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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