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
Today, Pamukkale and the ancient city of Hierapolis, which sprawls across the plateau above the white terraces, are part of a UNESCO World Heritage site that pulls in busloads of visitors.
—
Barry Neild, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
Inside each camp, sprawls of rickety structures covered with olive-green military tarps housed anywhere from 500 to 3,000 people.
—Miriam Pensack, The Dial, 30 Sep. 2025
Its story sprawls more, and its villains are exclusively Brazilians acting against their fellow Brazilians.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2025
The primary suite sprawls over the entire third floor with a fireplace in the bedroom; two bathrooms outfitted in marble and wood; and a two-room closet and dressing area.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 30 Sep. 2025
His senior Great Dane, Monroe, sprawls out on the floor between the music and the old pulpit.
—Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2025
The honor went to Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that sprawls north of Huesca, Spain.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 22 Sep. 2025
Up a winding staircase (or the home’s elevator), the primary suite sprawls out over the entire upper floor, boasting dual offices, bathrooms, and walk-in closets, plus a fireplace and a private deck.
—Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 19 Sep. 2025
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
Barry Neild, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
Inside each camp, sprawls of rickety structures covered with olive-green military tarps housed anywhere from 500 to 3,000 people.
—Miriam Pensack, The Dial, 30 Sep. 2025
Its story sprawls more, and its villains are exclusively Brazilians acting against their fellow Brazilians.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2025
The primary suite sprawls over the entire third floor with a fireplace in the bedroom; two bathrooms outfitted in marble and wood; and a two-room closet and dressing area.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 30 Sep. 2025
His senior Great Dane, Monroe, sprawls out on the floor between the music and the old pulpit.
—Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2025
The honor went to Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that sprawls north of Huesca, Spain.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 22 Sep. 2025
Up a winding staircase (or the home’s elevator), the primary suite sprawls out over the entire upper floor, boasting dual offices, bathrooms, and walk-in closets, plus a fireplace and a private deck.
—Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 19 Sep. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sprawls
Verb
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Covering these plants with frost blankets or cloches also extends the harvesting too, but brassicas usually have the best flavor if they are picked right after the first or second frost.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Oct. 2025
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Steve Martin extends his prolific creative legacy with his and frequent collaborator Alison Brown’s new album, Safe, Sensible and Sane.—
Russ Penuell,
Billboard,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Despite being in just his eighth season in Toronto, Tavares already sits 13th in franchise history in goals.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
30 Oct. 2025
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Brown is running against Redford for the Zone 3 seat, which sits generally east of Eagle Road and south of Chinden on the Meridian-Boise border.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This is where our brand of technical analysis diverges from the purists who focus on price only.—
Josh Brown,Sean Russo,
CNBC,
6 Oct. 2025
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Powell’s cautious stance diverges from that of several colleagues on the Fed’s rate-setting committee.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In the clip, kwn points to Kehlani while Kehlani rests an arm on kwn’s shoulder.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them.,
29 Oct. 2025
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That argument rests on the fact that the scale includes not just category numbers and wind speeds but also notes about what kind of damage to expect from those winds.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Earth’s magnetic field radiates from our planet’s poles, arcs deep into space, and creates a vast, magnetic bubble, known as the magnetosphere, that protects us from the solar wind.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
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This cul-de-sac at the end of civilization feels like a physical manifestation of the loneliness Carol radiates even before the cataclysmic incident.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Six Flags is parent company to Carowinds, the 400-acre amusement park that straddles the border between the Carolinas.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
22 Oct. 2025
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One of those pitchers straddles both challenges as a two-way player.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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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
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At one point, Alex comes over to recheck his map and, seeing Rizo attempt to analyze his work, flops over on the puzzle, causing Rizo to pause.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 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 5 Nov. 2025.
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