1
as in to extend
to extend outwards from or as if from a central point
The suburbs sprawl for miles beyond the city's downtown.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to stretch (out)
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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples 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 sprawl
The Jenin refugee camp in the north of the West Bank, a sprawling area of narrow alleys that has long been a bastion of militant factions, is front and center of the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) latest campaign.
—
Tim Lister and Eugenia Yosef, CNN, 23 Jan. 2025
Rising seas and powerful storms are endangering the state’s sprawling coastline.
—Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2025
The 10 executive orders – previewed by incoming White House officials who spoke anonymously before he was set to be sworn in at noon – appear to lay the groundwork for the sprawling crackdown on immigration Trump promised during his campaign.
—Lauren Villagran, USA TODAY, 20 Jan. 2025
But Biden leaves office on Jan. 20, and the recovery effort will likely sprawl for years to come.
—Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for sprawl 
Tim Lister and Eugenia Yosef, CNN, 23 Jan. 2025
Rising seas and powerful storms are endangering the state’s sprawling coastline.
—Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2025
The 10 executive orders – previewed by incoming White House officials who spoke anonymously before he was set to be sworn in at noon – appear to lay the groundwork for the sprawling crackdown on immigration Trump promised during his campaign.
—Lauren Villagran, USA TODAY, 20 Jan. 2025
But Biden leaves office on Jan. 20, and the recovery effort will likely sprawl for years to come.
—Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for sprawl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sprawl
Verb
-
Attempts to make up for this by extending the cooking time may lead to overcooked or dried-out food.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
20 Jan. 2025
-
The urban core, Howard explained, extends from Independence Avenue down to 63rd Street, and from Interstate 435 to Troost Avenue.—
Noelle Alviz-Gransee,
Kansas City Star,
20 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
The two friends find their paths diverging in their 30s and the trip takes some unexpected turns, including a chance encounter with a classmate and a bachelor party.—
Matt Minton,
Variety,
14 Jan. 2025
-
Here, Furze’s path diverges from Hobson’s, creating a sort of natural experiment with an unexpected result.—
Cal Newport,
The New Yorker,
8 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Kate Moss strikes a pose on her way into the Dior Homme show during Paris Fashion Week on Jan. 24. 47 of 120 Runway Romance Kieran Culkin and his wife Jazz Charton sit for the Dior Homme show during Paris Fashion Week on Jan. 24.—
Escher Walcott,
People.com,
26 Jan. 2025
-
In the preview, the pair sit on lawn chairs in what looks like the driveway of a suburban home, and discuss the fact that standards prohibit the depiction of alcohol consumption in a TV commercial, which prompts them to start counting down the seconds until the ad will be over.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
26 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
During the month of January, sky gazers will be able to see four planets in one view — and come February, the parade will only expand.—
Caitlin O'Kane,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2025
-
The new store will also greatly expand the selection of artist and band merchandise and audio equipment like turntables and speakers, as well as new and used vinyl and CDs.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
27 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
If the main trunk of the jade has gotten wildly overgrown and is flopping over under its own weight, lop it off.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Jan. 2025
-
Which leads us to Better Man’s bitterest irony: All anecdotal evidence suggests the movie flopped precisely because the Williams-as-mo-cap-chimp conceit was just too highbrow to put butts in seats.—
Chris Lee,
Vulture,
16 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
The galleries are categorized according to three themes — religion, kingship, and society — and divided into historical eras: Predynastic, the Old Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom, the Late Kingdom, Ptolemaic (Greek) Egypt, and the Roman period.—
Kate McMahon,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Jan. 2025
-
Astrology divides the zodiac into elemental groups: Earth: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn Fire: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius Air: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius Water: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces Each element reflects a distinct set of traits and tendencies.—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
24 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Their attire and posture radiated an iconic, aristocratic style, exemplified by Vance's wife, who stood elegantly in her rose-pitch dress coat.—
Kristen Waggoner,
Newsweek,
21 Jan. 2025
-
The Perseids appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus, which rises around 11 pm local time and will be highest in the sky just before dawn.—
Gretchen Rundorff,
WIRED,
2 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Stormy skies and a roiling sea kept us from lounging on beaches or splashing in the water.—
Devon Fredericksen,
New York Times,
17 Jan. 2025
-
Bravo released the season 15 reunion looks on Thursday, January 16, sharing a photo of Lyons lounging on a white boucle sofa, donning the cozy look from Balenciaga.—
Robyn Merrett,
StyleCaster,
16 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near sprawl
Cite this Entry
“Sprawl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sprawl. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share