1
as in extended
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 sat
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 sprawled
Considering that my recent sunburn sprawled across my shoulders and neck, this clever hoodie could have come in handy to prevent it (along with adequate sunscreen).
—
Sian Babish,
PEOPLE,
28 June 2026
Kimiya was closest, sprawled across the floor weeping, debris swirling around her.
—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
26 June 2026
His longtime girlfriend, Jenna Barber, shared a photo on Instagram of Reaves sprawled out on the greens of The Course at Eagle Mountain, a golf course in Arkansas.
—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
24 June 2026
This is a cultural campus sprawled across 135 acres of Ponderosa forests.
—
Sierra Vandervort,
Travel + Leisure,
20 June 2026
Several articles on Ted’s life and legacy sprawled above and below the fold.
—
Griffin Dunne,
Vulture,
19 June 2026
Blue skies extended to the horizon, and a small colony of tents, camper vans and motorhomes sprawled out across the lush alfalfa fields.
—
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
Blue skies extended to the horizon, and a small colony of tents, camper vans and motorhomes sprawled out across the lush alfalfa fields.
—
Annie Waldman,
ProPublica,
9 June 2026
The strips are piled high in plastic bins, sprawled over tables and fed underneath bobbing needles.
—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
6 June 2026
Sian Babish,
PEOPLE,
28 June 2026
Kimiya was closest, sprawled across the floor weeping, debris swirling around her.
—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
26 June 2026
His longtime girlfriend, Jenna Barber, shared a photo on Instagram of Reaves sprawled out on the greens of The Course at Eagle Mountain, a golf course in Arkansas.
—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
24 June 2026
This is a cultural campus sprawled across 135 acres of Ponderosa forests.
—
Sierra Vandervort,
Travel + Leisure,
20 June 2026
Several articles on Ted’s life and legacy sprawled above and below the fold.
—
Griffin Dunne,
Vulture,
19 June 2026
Blue skies extended to the horizon, and a small colony of tents, camper vans and motorhomes sprawled out across the lush alfalfa fields.
—
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
Blue skies extended to the horizon, and a small colony of tents, camper vans and motorhomes sprawled out across the lush alfalfa fields.
—
Annie Waldman,
ProPublica,
9 June 2026
The strips are piled high in plastic bins, sprawled over tables and fed underneath bobbing needles.
—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
6 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sprawled
Verb
-
Aerial video captured by ABC7 showed smoke rising from a smoldering truck as a long line of cars extended south of the incident.
-
After a two-month grace period — which Wellcare extended to three — Medicare drug plans can drop customers who don't pay their premiums, no matter how small the amount.
Verb
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Levi Jones, a 33-year-old business owner, pulled up to Sacred Eye Tattoos in Hollywood last week and sat for eight hours getting a photorealistic black-and-white portrait of Mangione on his leg.
-
The birthday boy and his big sister Sterling Skye, 3, each sat between one of their parents’ laps.
Verb
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Where the sources diverged more meaningfully is in explaining why institutions haven’t intervened—and each offered a different piece of the puzzle.
-
States controlled by Democrats and those led by Republicans have diverged in recent years over gun legislation, with some Republican states passing laws to relax firearm restrictions.
Verb
-
Anders Carlson bombed in 2023, then Brayden Narveson flopped at the start of 2024.
-
The superhero movie flopped on opening weekend, with domestic ticket sales totaling approximately $38 million.
Verb
-
The set of three decorative signs can be hung together or scattered about the bathroom for a unique aesthetic.
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His father was my father’s close friend, and their friendship had remained a source of solace for us across the geographies that their work had scattered us across.
Verb
-
In the living room, a tabby cat with a clipped ear lounged on a velvet couch, her front paws propping open an illustrated catalogue of military aircraft.
-
The couple giggled between kisses and lounged on a red-and-white picnic blanket while overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Verb
-
Her exhibit design vision, envisaged in partnership with partner Paul Cournet and his studio Cloud, incorporated luminescence and hues that radiated from the gems, dictating the color palette of purple, green, yellow and pink.
-
Neon blue airbrushing radiated off a sunshine-yellow base, while hot pink auras stood in stark contrast to white French tips.
Verb
-
Ellison, who is fifty-five, was slouched behind the wheel with the heater blowing on him.
-
The Grammy winner’s boots featured an over-the-knee design that slightly slouched around her thigh.
Cite this Entry
“Sprawled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sprawled. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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