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
March Adolescence went from low-key British original on Netflix to globe-straddling giant in March 2025.
—
Jake Kanter, Deadline, 27 Dec. 2025
The hero of the book’s first section is the sixteenth-century Spanish priest and writer Bartolomé de las Casas, who straddled the Old World and the New, issuing startling moral novelties to both.
—Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 25 Dec. 2025
The scene straddles high and low emotions — none of their four children lived past infancy, trauma that shaped the trajectory of the Shakers.
—Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 22 Dec. 2025
Separately, the measles outbreak largely straddling the border between Arizona and Utah also continues to swell.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for straddle
Jake Kanter, Deadline, 27 Dec. 2025
The hero of the book’s first section is the sixteenth-century Spanish priest and writer Bartolomé de las Casas, who straddled the Old World and the New, issuing startling moral novelties to both.
—Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 25 Dec. 2025
The scene straddles high and low emotions — none of their four children lived past infancy, trauma that shaped the trajectory of the Shakers.
—Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 22 Dec. 2025
Separately, the measles outbreak largely straddling the border between Arizona and Utah also continues to swell.
—Erika Edwards, NBC news, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for straddle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straddle
Verb
-
This price for the complex of 149 apartments is perched on the high side of per-unit values of South Bay residential hubs that have landed new owners lately.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The shelving unit that contains some of his collection of roughly 20,000 books stretches to the ceiling of the two-story living room; McDaniel would later perch on its narrow catwalk to deliver his lecture.—
Lila Shapiro,
Vulture,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
According to recent estimates, there are roughly 200 billion stars spanning about 100,000 light-years.—
Matthew S Williams,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Its reach spanned numerous locations in Northern California and even made it to the mayor of Flavortown himself, Guy Fieri.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The crime was not the only one that shook the state over the weekend.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Isabel initially thought the sounds shaking her surroundings were thunder.—
Brian Bennett,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Olathe’s trajectory mirrors what’s happening across Johnson County — which saw more than 90% of the homes go up in value in 2024, with the average home prices sitting at $508,000 and average sale price at $557,000.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Jacob Elordi stopped by DiCaprio’s table to say hello, as Patricia Arquette found Mia Goth in the crowd for a hug and Chalamet made a quiet arrival and sat next to his Marty Supreme co-star Odessa A'Zion.—
Andrea Mandell,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Court records show DeFoor has faced multiple criminal cases in Hamilton County in recent years, with each proceeding intersecting with findings related to his mental competency.—
Stephen Sorace , Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Saturday, near where East Hampden intersects South Galena Street, according to an alert from the Denver Police Department.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In winter, visitors like to duck in from the cold to sample wines at many of the Old Mission Peninsula's wineries, sipping warm reds and dry whites while watching the sun set over frozen Lake Michigan.—
Ashlyn Ware,
Midwest Living,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Unfortunately, New York’s leaders may choose to duck the hard choices for now.—
Andrew Rein,
New York Daily News,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
We are accustomed to billionaires who bestride the landscape with the imperial arrogance of Roman emperors.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
14 Dec. 2025
-
Sovereignty, the Triple Crown Class of 2025’s Derby and Belmont victor and Saratoga-man-of-the-minute, bestrides the ultra-short Travers Stakes field of five as an undisputed equine colossus.—
Guy Martin,
Forbes.com,
23 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
This is where the Greenpoint comes from, an excellent neo-classic riff on a Manhattan that was invented at Milk & Honey in New York, and comprises the classic build of Manhattan—rye, sweet vermouth, and bitters—into which has been spliced the inimitable French herbal liqueur, Yellow Chartreuse.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Four Seasons Puerto Rico comprises 104 guest rooms and 35 suites, along with a portfolio of private residences that anchor the property’s buy-in offerings.—
Amber Kallor,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Straddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straddle. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
