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
There’s plenty to keep you busy in and around the resort in all seasons, from horseback rides and golf to yoga and wellness rituals at Spa Montage, which sprawls over 11,000 square feet.
—
Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 27 Dec. 2025
The larger galaxy, NGC 4490, sprawls across the frame in a tangle of dust and newborn stars, dominating the left side of the image.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 4 Dec. 2025
The seven-room spread sprawls over the 19th floor of an elegant Art Deco apartment house across from Riverside Park that was designed in 1938 by esteemed architect Emery Roth.
—Mark David, Robb Report, 2 Dec. 2025
The land sprawls through Pima, Santa Cruz and Cochise counties.
—Alexandra Hardle, AZCentral.com, 23 Nov. 2025
The second-term congressman, who represents a district that sprawls from the Sacramento suburbs, across the state and down to Death Valley, was easily re-elected in 2024.
—David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 20 Nov. 2025
What was at the turn of this century still mostly a one-day celebration now sprawls over two weeks.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 28 Oct. 2025
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
Its story sprawls more, and its villains are exclusively Brazilians acting against their fellow Brazilians.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2025
Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 27 Dec. 2025
The larger galaxy, NGC 4490, sprawls across the frame in a tangle of dust and newborn stars, dominating the left side of the image.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 4 Dec. 2025
The seven-room spread sprawls over the 19th floor of an elegant Art Deco apartment house across from Riverside Park that was designed in 1938 by esteemed architect Emery Roth.
—Mark David, Robb Report, 2 Dec. 2025
The land sprawls through Pima, Santa Cruz and Cochise counties.
—Alexandra Hardle, AZCentral.com, 23 Nov. 2025
The second-term congressman, who represents a district that sprawls from the Sacramento suburbs, across the state and down to Death Valley, was easily re-elected in 2024.
—David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 20 Nov. 2025
What was at the turn of this century still mostly a one-day celebration now sprawls over two weeks.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 28 Oct. 2025
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
Its story sprawls more, and its villains are exclusively Brazilians acting against their fellow Brazilians.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sprawls
Verb
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Hardware proven beyond Earth That validation already extends into space.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Jan. 2026
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But for his dad and mom, the pride in Carson extends far beyond statistics and endorsements.—
Nasha Smith,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Per its Sotheby's auction listing, scrolls of diamonds are interrupted by sparkling floral motifs, while a romantic heart emblem sits at the center.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
8 Jan. 2026
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The city, which sits just north of Indianapolis, was ranked the best place to live in the Midwest, according to a report from Livability, which focuses on small-to-medium sized cities.—
Opheli Garcia Lawler,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Neuralink top officials’ public rhetoric about machine-human symbiosis and healthy human implantation diverges sharply from the company’s clinical work helping people with ALS and quadriplegia control a computer with their mind.—
O. Rose Broderick,
STAT,
5 Jan. 2026
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Yet its style diverges significantly from the icy, minimalist chic that has shaped engagement-ring tastes in recent years.—
Emilia Petrarca,
New Yorker,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The belief that the Maduro episode could be replicated in Iran also rests on a misleading comparison.—
Sanam Vakil,
Time,
8 Jan. 2026
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But according to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the post-raid landscape, that assumption rests on dangerously fragile ground.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Ethereally beautiful, with platinum hair, Fastvold radiates calm, a complement to Seyfried’s quicksilver curiosity, though both women have about them an inspiring clarity.—
Claire Messud,
Vogue,
8 Jan. 2026
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When a fire begins in a room without ventilation, the heat radiates downward, eventually engulfing all combustible items in its path, causing a flashover, per NFPA.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The park straddles the state line between Tennessee and North Carolina.—
Mark Price
January 9,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Jan. 2026
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Silver, on the other hand, straddles two worlds.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 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 10 Jan. 2026.
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