fence-sitting
noun
fence-sit·ting
ˈfen(t)s-ˌsi-tiŋ 
: a state of indecision or neutrality with respect to conflicting positions
Synonyms
Examples of fence-sitting in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Given the close nature of the race, these fence-sitting voters could play a crucial role in determining who will become the next president.
—
Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024
That question must haunt the pair — director-writer John Ridley and his star Regina King — who collaborated on this sometimes touching but fence-sitting portrayal of Chisholm.
—Armond White, National Review, 27 Mar. 2024
Washington also needs to strengthen the incentives for fence-sitting countries to work with the United States by offering better access to the American market.
—Ryan Hass, Foreign Affairs, 24 Oct. 2023
Democrats should not get in the way of that by pushing what certainly will appear like an antidemocratic maneuver — which has been Trump’s MO in recent years — to Republicans and maybe some fence-sitting independents.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Sep. 2023
Zelensky is expected to try to persuade fence-sitting countries to rally behind Ukraine’s war effort.
—Farnaz Fassihi, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Sep. 2023
Fears of retaliation continue to dominate the news cycle and loom large in the minds of policymakers, particularly in key fence-sitting countries such as Germany and South Korea.
—Time, 20 July 2023
There was nuance -- at least in their comments to reporters -- with a fair share of fence-sitting or waiting to see where the wind blows.
—Michael Casagrande | McAsagrande@al.com, al, 31 May 2023
Lincoln’s responding call for troops made plain that there would be a war and that Tennessee, like other fence-sitting Upper South states, would have to choose sides.
—Daniel Feller, The Conversation, 20 Apr. 2023
Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024
That question must haunt the pair — director-writer John Ridley and his star Regina King — who collaborated on this sometimes touching but fence-sitting portrayal of Chisholm.
—Armond White, National Review, 27 Mar. 2024
Washington also needs to strengthen the incentives for fence-sitting countries to work with the United States by offering better access to the American market.
—Ryan Hass, Foreign Affairs, 24 Oct. 2023
Democrats should not get in the way of that by pushing what certainly will appear like an antidemocratic maneuver — which has been Trump’s MO in recent years — to Republicans and maybe some fence-sitting independents.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Sep. 2023
Zelensky is expected to try to persuade fence-sitting countries to rally behind Ukraine’s war effort.
—Farnaz Fassihi, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Sep. 2023
Fears of retaliation continue to dominate the news cycle and loom large in the minds of policymakers, particularly in key fence-sitting countries such as Germany and South Korea.
—Time, 20 July 2023
There was nuance -- at least in their comments to reporters -- with a fair share of fence-sitting or waiting to see where the wind blows.
—Michael Casagrande | McAsagrande@al.com, al, 31 May 2023
Lincoln’s responding call for troops made plain that there would be a war and that Tennessee, like other fence-sitting Upper South states, would have to choose sides.
—Daniel Feller, The Conversation, 20 Apr. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fence-sitting.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Fence-sitting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fence-sitting. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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