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 Her approach often straddles a line that others have not been able to successfully navigate, one GOP strategist said. — Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 27 July 2026 The takeaway may be that organizations are better off committing to one model than trying to straddle both. — Kristin Stoller, Fortune, 27 July 2026 Merton Council approved the AELTC’s plans in October 2023, but they were rejected by Wandsworth Council (the club straddles both areas) a month later. — Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 24 July 2026 Every year, the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department conducts a fish census in Lake Memphremagog, which straddles northern Vermont and the Canadian province of Quebec. — Ari Daniel, NPR, 22 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
  • Figures depicting the Pink Panther, Spider Man and the Minions have perched or crawled atop the Dome.
    — Mandalit del Barco, NPR, 31 July 2026
  • The rocks can provide birds with a safe place to perch when bathing, too.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 July 2026
Definition of perch
Verb
  • The ranch spans about 245 acres and sits at the junction of Highway 1 and Highway 84, with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean.
    — Sooji Nam, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Next week, fashion will take over Copenhagen once again, with shows spanning from the Opera Park to the Statens Museum for Kunst, spilling out into cobbled streets and waterside runways in between.
    — Bella Webb, Vogue, 31 July 2026
Definition of span
Verb
  • The heat now poses an additional danger to residents still shaken by the quake, many of whom are sleeping in their cars after their homes were damaged or destroyed.
    — Yumi Asada, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Chad Gable and Penta shook hands as Gable’s family watched from ringside.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of shake
Verb
  • Along the way, cast members sit for personal fate readings and open up about relationships and losses in their own lives, then move into direct contact with shamanic ritual, a practice the format positions as central to Korean spiritual life.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 30 July 2026
  • Thanks to the long wheelbase, there’s room for adults to sit comfortably in both rear rows.
    — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 29 July 2026
Definition of sit
Verb
  • Through the years, marketing has intersected with music and music videos.
    — Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • That innovation is also intersecting with the growth of artificial intelligence capabilities, according to Hendrik Venter, CEO of DHL Supply Chain.
    — Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 25 July 2026
Definition of intersect
Verb
  • To pretend otherwise, and to accuse everyone who points to these difficult trade-offs of bad faith, is to duck a confrontation with the deepest problems of politics and policy.
    — Nikhil Krishnan, New Yorker, 20 July 2026
  • By contrast with physical products, policymakers now tend to duck difficult conversations about what to do with addictive services or experiences like gambling and video games.
    — Jonathan Caulkins, The Conversation, 17 July 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
  • According to the Alpine Club, the expedition comprised five Nepali climbers, Pakistani mountaineer Sohail Sakhi, Omani climber Nathira, American climber Mallory Geis, a Chinese climber identified only as Wang, and another foreign climber.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 31 July 2026
  • Today, the business includes several additional historic buildings that comprise The Buffalo Rose Events Center, which is used for concerts and private parties.
    — Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 31 July 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 5 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of straddle for Spanish Speakers

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