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straddle

verb

Definition of straddlenext
1
as in to perch
to be in or move into a seated or standing position with your legs on either side of (something) She straddled the horse and waited for her riding partner to mount.

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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

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 straddle Your work tends to straddle this line of hardship and comedy. — Jd Linville, Variety, 8 Sep. 2026 The selection of key pieces of Oklahoma’s high-stakes reading law is underway in a process that likely will straddle two governors and state superintendents. — Nuria Martinez-Keel, Oklahoma Voice, 8 Sep. 2026 Freddy straddled all these worlds, observing their points of intersection and grooves of adjacency. — Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026 The sisters, Black women who pass for white and hide in plain sight, straddle a dangerous line between two Americas. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for straddle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straddle
  1. perch
  2. span
  3. shake
  4. sit
  5. intersect
  6. duck
  7. bestride
  8. comprise
Verb
  • An oxpecker in dark plumage and a bright orange bill perched on the crown of the rhino’s head like the king’s fool.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • The triplex penthouse is perched high above the Milan skyline, with landscaped terraces.
    — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of perch
Verb
  • What is changing is the assumption that one type, experienced once and early, should be sufficient for an entire career spanning decades of relentless change.
    — Mo Husain, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The new entity, which will operate under the name Banijay Entertainment, will be the world’s largest independent production company, spanning 25 countries and encompassing more than 170 production and live-events companies.
    — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of span
Verb
  • In the coastal village of Quinhagak, the storm shook houses and damaged some buildings and infrastructure.
    — Samantha Watson, NPR, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Some Providence parents shook their heads as the clock wound down; others shouted expletives toward school administrators and Nazareth players.
    — Lila Hempel-Edgers, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of shake
Verb
  • But Wendy Goodman, New York Magazine’s design editor who has been a balletgoer since childhood, pays to sit at the front of the theater.
    — Fiorella Valdesolo, Curbed, 22 Sep. 2026
  • At the top end of the range sits the Artycapucines line, an annual edition of limited-edition bags customized by prominent artists.
    — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of sit
Verb
  • In its northern section, excavators found a main street running east to west; this is intersected by a road running south to north, indicating some level of urban planning within the fortification.
    — Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The veteran playmaker has mostly flown under the radar since being traded to the Dallas Mavericks in February 2023, but his latest remarks have placed him back at the nexus where sports and politics continue to intersect.
    — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of intersect
Verb
  • Even so, the show ducked and dived the long arm of the network fuddy-duddies beautifully, skirting the edge of censorship with a knowing wink, clever pun, and out-of-this-world comedic timing.
    — Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 22 Sep. 2026
  • But then, Jackson ducked low beneath two heavyweight defenders.
    — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of duck
Verb
  • 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
  • The Lone Star State is already a literal powerhouse that bestrides domestic energy production.
    — Dallas Morning News, Dallas Morning News, 15 Mar. 2026
Definition of bestride
Verb
  • The album features 24 tracks, with each LP comprising 12 songs corresponding to the Day and Night theme.
    — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The caliber comprises 180 components and 29 jewels, runs at 3 Hz, and delivers a 38-hour power reserve.
    — Taylor Stoddard, Robb Report, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of comprise

Phrases Containing straddle

Browse Nearby Words

strabismus
straddle
straddled
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Cite this Entry

“Straddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straddle. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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