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
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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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of sprawl
Cops patrolling the area were flagged down and directed to the Avenue W apartment near Batchelder St. in Sheepshead Bay — part of NYCHA’s Sheepshead Bay Houses — at about 2:30 a.m. and found the victim sprawled out on the floor.
—
Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2025
Auto tariffs went into effect on April 3, the day after Trump announced sprawling taxes on almost all U.S. trading partners.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 5 Apr. 2025
The city set up the sites after officials cleared a massive nearby encampment along Wood Street in West Oakland, which at its peak had more than 300 people in tents, vehicles and makeshift dwellings sprawled across multiple city blocks.
—Ethan Varian, The Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2025
The sprawling investigation into Hutchins’ accidental shooting death and the high-profile trials of Baldwin and armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed went on to claim the spotlight in news coverage of Rust, which is now headed to a commercial release.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sprawl
Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2025
Auto tariffs went into effect on April 3, the day after Trump announced sprawling taxes on almost all U.S. trading partners.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 5 Apr. 2025
The city set up the sites after officials cleared a massive nearby encampment along Wood Street in West Oakland, which at its peak had more than 300 people in tents, vehicles and makeshift dwellings sprawled across multiple city blocks.
—Ethan Varian, The Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2025
The sprawling investigation into Hutchins’ accidental shooting death and the high-profile trials of Baldwin and armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed went on to claim the spotlight in news coverage of Rust, which is now headed to a commercial release.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sprawl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sprawl
Verb
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Holland and Sasser will be suspended for one game, and Stewart will be suspended for two games. Oklahoma City aims to extend its 10-game winning streak as the Thunder face off against the Detroit Pistons.—
Jason D. Greenblatt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Apr. 2025
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When the federal tax return filing deadline is extended, there is no corresponding extension for the lookback period.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
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In dueling lawsuits and PR missives, both sides offer scenarios that both overlap and diverge.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
31 Mar. 2025
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Young women and men appear to be diverging politically.—
Stephanie H. Murray,
The Atlantic,
31 Mar. 2025
Verb
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After being shunned by the other passengers, June sits on the floor with Nichole as the train hits the end of the line.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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My co-founder Annie Irwin also sits on the Environment Leadership Team of Northern Ireland as the small business voice, and to gain insight and direction for the company.—
Christopher Marquis,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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In this slice-of-life portrait, Chen shows how childhood experiences can shape someone, illustrating how a childhood passion might expand their horizons without necessarily becoming a lifelong vocation.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
29 Mar. 2025
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Several hours later, the judge expanded his order to prevent the Trump administration from deporting any migrants believed to be members of Tren de Aragua under the Alien Enemies Act.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Her cookery show seems to have bombed and the previous podcast deal with Spotify flopped, so the desire to succeed this time is weighing heavily on her shoulders.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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If the company’s stock flops, your reward flops too.—
Anatoly Iofe,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The Trump administration reportedly calculated the tariff by dividing the trade deficit ($7.4 billion) by the value of imports to America ($22.2 billion) and then essentially halving the figure to reach 17%.—
Amelie Botbol,
FOXNews.com,
7 Apr. 2025
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The appeals court divided 2-1 in turning down the government's request to halt Boasberg's directive.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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At over six feet long, it’s got a serious presence—perfect for anchoring a living room or quietly radiating main character energy under a gallery wall.—
Bailey Berg,
Architectural Digest,
4 Apr. 2025
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As domestic stability gets wobbly in Turkey the destabilizing effect will radiate out to the neighboring countries, to the region and beyond.—
Melik Kaylan,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Adorned with crocheted edges and festive tassels, this sunny hammock will be the best place to lounge on a lazy afternoon or stargaze on clear summer nights.—
Blake Bakkila,
Architectural Digest,
2 Apr. 2025
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Named for Joséphine Bonaparte, the first wife of Napoleon, who was known for her sophisticated sense of fashion and patronage of the arts, this first-floor suite has a king-size bed, a separate dressing room, and a living area perfect for lounging around.—
Meredith Lepore,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sprawl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sprawl. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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