1
2
as in to span
to be on both sides of (something)
The town straddles the river. The movie straddles the line between comedy and drama.
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Dissimilar Words
3
as in to shake
to agree with or seem to agree with two opposite sides of (something)
The politician straddled the issue for weeks.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of straddle
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which straddles Tennessee and North Carolina, and Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park both had more than 1,000 mentions each.
—
Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 15 June 2026
Many of the most prominent entrepreneurs in the American church today straddle the spiritual and the political.
—Michael Luo, New Yorker, 14 June 2026
Prosecutors say the original driver of the Genesis who Baez was straddling in the street as well as the passenger who then jumped behind the wheel may have been involved in the SUV theft.
—Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 12 June 2026
Pelosi then straddled the gator’s tail and got on top of the animal while the officer continued to restrain in the front, the video showed.
—Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for straddle
Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 15 June 2026
Many of the most prominent entrepreneurs in the American church today straddle the spiritual and the political.
—Michael Luo, New Yorker, 14 June 2026
Prosecutors say the original driver of the Genesis who Baez was straddling in the street as well as the passenger who then jumped behind the wheel may have been involved in the SUV theft.
—Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 12 June 2026
Pelosi then straddled the gator’s tail and got on top of the animal while the officer continued to restrain in the front, the video showed.
—Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for straddle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straddle
Verb
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From the nearby lighthouse, visitors craned for a better view of Swift’s mansion, a sprawling white home perched atop a rocky bluff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.—
Leah Willingham,
Fortune,
21 June 2026
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Rumors take hold From the nearby lighthouse, visitors craned for a better view of Swift’s mansion, a sprawling white home perched atop a rocky bluff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.—
Leah Willingham,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2026
Verb
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The suspects spanned the country, living in states including Missouri, Ohio and California.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
17 June 2026
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Charlotte’s news cycle so far this week spans a major banking leadership change, a high-stakes mayoral selection and the close of a chapter at a brand-new high school.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
16 June 2026
Verb
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Canada’s first-ever World Cup win was overshadowed yesterday when midfielder Ismaël Koné suffered a broken leg after a tackle that left teammates shaken and coach Jesse Marsch lamenting an injury that turned a night of celebration into one of anguish.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
20 June 2026
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In a major rupture, strong shaking could cause severe damage near the fault and in areas built on soft or water-saturated soils, which can amplify shaking.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
Verb
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Housing sits at the center of that strategy.—
Gabby Sartori,
USA Today,
23 June 2026
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With the completion of a multi-year effort to modernize Baltimore’s rail infrastructure — raising bridges, modifying overpasses and expanding the Howard Street Tunnel to accommodate double-stack container trains — Baltimore once again sits at the center of a national rail breakthrough.—
Wes Moore,
Baltimore Sun,
22 June 2026
Verb
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The speech reflected a long-running tradition in Black churches across Georgia and the South, where faith and civic engagement have often intersected.—
Zachary Bynum,
CBS News,
21 June 2026
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That answer matters because audiences have become increasingly skeptical whenever patriotism intersects with marketing.—
Greg Engle,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Verb
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Guests can walk along the nearby Rim Village Promenade before ducking into its lobby to enjoy the cozy fireplace, Mission furniture, and tree trunk columns.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 June 2026
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Otherwise, Makar will be wincing through pain trying to explain the unfathomable, Blackwood will be dropping F-bombs in disbelief and MacKinnon will be ducking reporters despite being the team’s best player.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
11 June 2026
Verb
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His career essentially bestrides the slow-to-grow Before Times and the apparent soccer paradise of today, which was fortified by remarkable facilities, boosted by an ideal central location and forged by an eagerly welcoming host city that slugged above its weight to make this happen.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
8 Apr. 2026
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The Lone Star State is already a literal powerhouse that bestrides domestic energy production.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In the field, such systems would likely comprise a backpack that contains batteries and cooling systems.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
20 June 2026
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Clad in three-piece tailoring, pristine shoes and often a jaunty hat, this group comprises the influencers, brand founders, buyers, and journalists that orbit the menswear market.—
Lucy Maguire,
Vogue,
19 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Straddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straddle. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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