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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Dissimilar Words
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 In the world of traffic oddities, one car straddling a bike path median — like a gymnast poised on a balance beam — could be called a fluke. — Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026 The brand is the latest in the Iris portfolio that straddles health and aesthetics. — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 31 July 2026 One shopper even brought their own traffic cone to straddle two spots. — Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 30 July 2026 Mythical creatures, too, soaked in the supernatural; half-men, half-animals who evaded classification—centaurs and satyrs, fauns and werewolves—straddling the boundary between man and beast. — Literary Hub, 30 July 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
  • Choose a cabin surrounded by woods for hiking; a cottage perched on the sea for water sports; a farmhouse near the vineyards for wine-tasting.
    — Kelsey Mulvey, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2026
  • There are many savory options and sandwiches, too, for those who are in more of a lunch state of mind—plus the benches out front are some of the best places to perch and people watch the Dimes Square scene.
    — Kyle Beechey, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of perch
Verb
  • The bridge was built to span a roughly 650-foot gap over Maroon Creek.
    — Spencer Wilson, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Rome — Scorching temperatures and a long, dry summer have given locals and tourists alike a rare opportunity to see the remains of a 2,000-year-old bridge that once spanned the Tiber river that weaves through the center of Rome.
    — Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of span
Verb
  • First, Murdock recognized the Falcons setting up a screen and then shook off a block attempt by the pulling center and dropped running back Tyler Goodson for no gain.
    — Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • In quiet spaces, cues on whether the ground is shaking are distorted by our expectations.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of shake
Verb
  • Los Angeles City Council members on Tuesday approved a resolution to remove 12 anti-camping zones around Hollywood, ending a years-long ban that prevented people from sitting, sleeping or camping in certain areas.
    — Brittney Ermon, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Videos posted on social media show sellers at Tehran and Karaj wholesale markets sitting beside their fresh produce, waiting to sell goods like melons, watermelons, pears, bananas and grapes, but with no-one arriving to buy it.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of sit
Verb
  • The timing also intersects with the beginning of the school year.
    — Rob Stein, NPR, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Her protocol had intersected somewhat with his own desperate push.
    — Emma Cline, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of intersect
Verb
  • The masked person, carrying a distinctive blue plaid backpack, was last seen ducking into SEPTA’s Suburban Station.
    — Madison Lambert, NBC news, 18 Aug. 2026
  • An aftershock that struck during an interview Tuesday prompted Vincentius Rano and his wife to instinctively duck and cover their heads.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 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
  • Running September 10–20, before streaming September 21–27, the event will comprise 87 feature-length and short films by 2SLGBTQIA+ creators alongside parties, filmmaker Q&As, workshops, and community events.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The living quarters comprise a sumptuous salon and dining area, plus five generous guest cabins that can sleep up to 10 guests.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 13 Aug. 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 20 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of straddle for Spanish Speakers

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