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.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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.
Related Words
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 sprawls
The grand penthouse sprawls over two floors with three bedrooms, three full bathrooms, and three powder rooms.
—
Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 8 May 2026
District 9 goes from a compact district to one that sprawls 120 miles from Orlando International Airport to Moore Haven on the edge of Lake Okeechobee.
—Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 May 2026
Chicago One of the world's largest science museums, the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry sprawls over more than 400,000 square feet.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 30 Apr. 2026
Osmon’s cast of characters sometimes sprawls to confounding breadth, but her linchpin figures are Springsteen, Mellencamp, Seger, and Petty.
—Jack Hamilton, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026
If your budget stretches to it, the 6,700-square-foot Royal Suite sprawls across the entire top floor of the building closest to the sea, with endless ocean views and multiple terraces featuring an outdoor pool and a jacuzzi.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 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
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
Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 8 May 2026
District 9 goes from a compact district to one that sprawls 120 miles from Orlando International Airport to Moore Haven on the edge of Lake Okeechobee.
—Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 May 2026
Chicago One of the world's largest science museums, the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry sprawls over more than 400,000 square feet.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 30 Apr. 2026
Osmon’s cast of characters sometimes sprawls to confounding breadth, but her linchpin figures are Springsteen, Mellencamp, Seger, and Petty.
—Jack Hamilton, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026
If your budget stretches to it, the 6,700-square-foot Royal Suite sprawls across the entire top floor of the building closest to the sea, with endless ocean views and multiple terraces featuring an outdoor pool and a jacuzzi.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sprawls
Verb
-
The Israeli government and military have said forces will remain in a buffer zone that spans the countries' border and extends at least six miles into Lebanese territory, and that residents will not be allowed to return home, until the Hezbollah threat is removed.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The decision also extends to OPEC+, a larger group that consists of other oil producers such as Russia.—
Hanna Ziady,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But today, the home sits almost unbearably silent.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
10 May 2026
-
Royals Hall of Famer Willie Wilson sits atop that list, with 13 during his career.—
Jaylon Thompson
May 9,
Kansas City Star,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
But his account of the incident significantly diverges from there.—
Nicole Blanchard,
Idaho Statesman,
1 May 2026
-
This is where the ACP diverges most sharply from the USPSTF, which supports biennial screening starting at 40, and from the ACR and SBI, which recommend going annually from that age.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
And at the counter, where chef and guest are separated by little more than a stretch of the hand, everything rests on precision, presence and the quiet thrill of relinquishing control to the chef’s capable hands.—
Rachel Ingram,
Robb Report,
10 May 2026
-
And sure, animals such as starfish and flatworms can reproduce by cloning themselves—but at the end of the day, in most species, the survival of animals rests on their mothers.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
Pain radiates up her back after sitting for too long.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
10 May 2026
-
Inner peace radiates from you as the sun harmonizes with Jupiter.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
Jane Wickline also debuts a new song, which straddles a defense of being chronically late and an outright defiance of the idea of being on time.—
Rima Parikh,
Vulture,
10 May 2026
-
The land, annexed in January, straddles Meadow Road, and officials said at the time that annexing the land would allow for development that would bring jobs and other benefits to the city.—
Elizabeth Campbell,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Joel Embiid is a great player, one of the best bigs in f—ing basketball history, flops.—
Devon Henderson,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
-
One of the best bigs in [expletive] basketball history flops.—
Matt Schooley,
CBS News,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
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 13 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
