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
Suites expand into living areas, while the Presidential Suite sprawls across a footprint only a Soviet office block could provide.
—
Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
On the lowest floor, a fifth bedroom sprawls out across from the family room, which is complemented by an arched wooden door that opens to the rear deck.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 27 Aug. 2025
Tucked at the edge of the Medicine Bow National Forest, about 35 minutes west of Laramie, the Deerwood Ranch Wild Horse EcoSanctuary sprawls across approximately 4,700 acres.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 25 Aug. 2025
The bar sprawls over two buildings that face each other across the street, including a greenhouse-like annex that abounds in French wine and spirits.
—Seth Sherwood, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
The residence, built in 2003, with six bedrooms and a total of 10 bathrooms, sprawls across 11,223 square feet of living space.
—David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 12 Aug. 2025
In New Jersey, some were spotted over the Picatinny Arsenal, an active weapons research and development facility owned by the Army that sprawls across nearly 6,000 acres.
—Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024
The studio sprawls across 330 acres of a former Army base in southern Atlanta that Perry acquired in 2015.
—CBS News, 7 Dec. 2024
Oil giant Phillips 66 announced in October that the century-old complex, which sprawls across 650 acres and produces about 8% of the state’s gasoline, would cease operations late next year.
—Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024
Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
On the lowest floor, a fifth bedroom sprawls out across from the family room, which is complemented by an arched wooden door that opens to the rear deck.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 27 Aug. 2025
Tucked at the edge of the Medicine Bow National Forest, about 35 minutes west of Laramie, the Deerwood Ranch Wild Horse EcoSanctuary sprawls across approximately 4,700 acres.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 25 Aug. 2025
The bar sprawls over two buildings that face each other across the street, including a greenhouse-like annex that abounds in French wine and spirits.
—Seth Sherwood, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
The residence, built in 2003, with six bedrooms and a total of 10 bathrooms, sprawls across 11,223 square feet of living space.
—David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 12 Aug. 2025
In New Jersey, some were spotted over the Picatinny Arsenal, an active weapons research and development facility owned by the Army that sprawls across nearly 6,000 acres.
—Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024
The studio sprawls across 330 acres of a former Army base in southern Atlanta that Perry acquired in 2015.
—CBS News, 7 Dec. 2024
Oil giant Phillips 66 announced in October that the century-old complex, which sprawls across 650 acres and produces about 8% of the state’s gasoline, would cease operations late next year.
—Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sprawls
Verb
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With its calculatedly severe form, the film both distills and extends melodrama to avant-garde extremes.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The vision extends beyond test prep.—
Sixteen Ramos,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This upholstered bed sits close to the ground, delivering a modern look and a more spacious feel to your bedroom.—
Jacqueline Tempera,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The increase lifted his total fortune to $393 billion, ahead of Musk who sits at $385 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The general rule of thumb is that reality is closer to the dot-plot in the short term, but diverges heavily from reality in the longer term or in times of stress.—
Vipin Bharathan,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
The version of the night’s events diverges from there, according to attorneys, who picked at each other’s arguments throughout the trial.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The evidence strongly indicates JNJ’s rally rests on solid foundations that could support continued outperformance.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Routh, who is representing himself despite having little legal experience, has signaled that his defense rests largely on his character.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Just as Queenz Eye’s fashion choices embrace contrast and individuality, their music radiates the same spirit of boldness and diversity.—
Footwear News,
Footwear News,
27 Aug. 2025
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On the outside, Jin Yul radiates a chic and reserved energy.—
Sara Smith,
Variety,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The Permian Basin — the country’s largest oil field, which straddles the Texas-New Mexico border — was estimated by a 2024 study to emit the second-most methane of any oil field in the world.—
ProPublica,
ProPublica,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Abbotsford straddles Clark and Marathon counties.—
Rick Barrett,
jsonline.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Sinking the throttle forces the electric motor and engine to work together; the car then squats before alarmingly rocketing down the road while swapping cogs swiftly but smoothly.—
Matthew MacConnell,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sprawls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sprawls. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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