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.
Related Words
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.
Related Words
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
The deep alpine lake straddling the state lines of California and Nevada needs no introduction—Lake Tahoe’s sparkling, cobalt blue waters and sweeping Sierra Nevada mountain views have been mesmerizing people for centuries.
—
Christina Pérez, Vogue, 30 Aug. 2025
If a tree straddles the property line, both owners must agree on maintenance and removal.
—Keely Doll, Louisville Courier Journal, 30 Aug. 2025
Nielsen’s ongoing refinements arrive as the industry tries to straddle the divergent worlds of trad TV and streaming.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 29 Aug. 2025
His ability to defend that area of the floor is far less certain, but he also has been straddled by injuries for most of his first three years, so maybe a healthy offseason can cure those concerns.
—Mat Issa, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for straddle
Christina Pérez, Vogue, 30 Aug. 2025
If a tree straddles the property line, both owners must agree on maintenance and removal.
—Keely Doll, Louisville Courier Journal, 30 Aug. 2025
Nielsen’s ongoing refinements arrive as the industry tries to straddle the divergent worlds of trad TV and streaming.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 29 Aug. 2025
His ability to defend that area of the floor is far less certain, but he also has been straddled by injuries for most of his first three years, so maybe a healthy offseason can cure those concerns.
—Mat Issa, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for straddle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straddle
Verb
-
The figural birds are crafted in platinum and 18-karat gold with gemstones — appearing to perch upon the wearer.—
Thomas Waller,
Footwear News,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Some of its most breathtaking sequences focus on the impossibly elegant birds and their huge nests perched on rooftops, church towers and power poles.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
31 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
After six seasons at United — spanning the men’s team, the academy, and most recently three years with the women’s team — kit manager Jon Humble has left to take up the same role at Liverpool.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
-
The Gallery, spanning seven levels, is connected by a soaring atrium of floating cast medallion stairs.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
On back-to-back pass plays, though, Ward held the ball too long and couldn’t shake the Broncos’ pass rush, resulting in back-to-back sacks that took the Titans outside field goal range.—
Nick Kosmider,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
After a while, the lady shook her head.—
Bryan Washington,
New Yorker,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Mariners sit two games ahead of the club for the third and final American League Wild Card spot.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Johnson then had a lengthy discussion with MLB’s replay office in New York before handing the bat to an authenticator sitting near the Yankees dugout.—
Brendan Kuty,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That’s because the moon’s orbital path intersects the sun’s path through Earth’s sky (the ecliptic) twice each month.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
-
ProPublica and The Chronicle of Higher Education interviewed dozens of people whose paths have intersected with Terrell’s and reviewed thousands of pages of court documents and financial records related to his career and life.—
Peter Elkind,
ProPublica,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Glass exploded across the dining room as the pair scrambled from their booth, ducking for cover while stunned employees froze in place.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
19 Aug. 2025
-
In nearby Germantown, residents ducked into a church basement under low-hanging fluorescent lights.—
Sarah Henry,
The Courier-Journal,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The film depicts a world where the Four are something like the Beatles, the Kennedys, the Curies, and the Brady Bunch all in one, a globe-bestriding celebrity family responsible for staving off supernatural threats and, seemingly, establishing world peace.—
Derek Robertson,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Aug. 2025
-
The United States will once again bestride the world like a colossus deterring enemies and making other nations safe from the likes of Russia, China, Iran and North Korea.—
Armstrong Williams,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
The next pronounced spike came in the mid-1960s — roughly around the time of England’s World Cup win on home soil, and comprises largely those who would play a major role in England’s Euro 96 campaign.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
-
This story was produced with financial support from Trish and Dan Bell and from donors comprising the South Florida Jewish and Muslim Communities, including Khalid and Diana Mirza, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners.—
Lauren Costantino
September 6,
Miami Herald,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Straddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straddle. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share