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 While Venezuela sits near multiple fault lines, its position straddling the South American and Caribbean plates makes strong earthquakes much less common than in other parts of Latin America. — ABC News, 26 June 2026 While Venezuela sits near multiple fault lines, its position straddling the South American and Caribbean plates makes strong earthquakes much less common than in other parts of Latin America. — Megan Janetsky, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026 The coastal Broward County 100th House district straddles Federal Highway from the south end of Fort Lauderdale north to the Palm Beach County line. — Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 25 June 2026 While the country sits near multiple fault lines, its position straddling the South American and Caribbean plates makes earthquakes much less common than in other parts of Latin America. — CBS News, 25 June 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
  • When the earthquake struck, Villafaña was in a fourth-floor room at the Santuario La Llanada hotel, formerly known as Negra Hipólita, perched on a hillside surrounded by vegetation in La Guaira, the state hardest hit by the twin earthquakes.
    — Sonia Osorio, Miami Herald, 8 July 2026
  • Named Venezia Pacifica, the mega-mansion is perched on over an acre of land in the Cliffside Drive cul-de-sac.
    — Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 8 July 2026
Definition of perch
Verb
  • The six-bedroom home spans 15,000 square feet over three floors.
    — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 10 July 2026
  • Utility territories most often span multiple counties, while rate-setting rules differ by state and utility.
    — Daniel Yue, The Conversation, 10 July 2026
Definition of span
Verb
  • The question is whether Thompson will shake free from the Mavericks, either through a buyout or trade.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026
  • The wine and cocktail menu sports a few local makers too, including Gruet Winery’s sparkling wine and Hollow Spirits vodka, which is shaken into the restaurant’s take on a Vesper martini.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 July 2026
Definition of shake
Verb
  • Greenstein’s brother and sister conducted the ceremony, and at the reception, everyone sat at tables named for Italian directors and feasted on dishes like linguine with baby squid and soused trout by chef Antonino Cannavacciuolo.
    — Gillian Telling, PEOPLE, 15 July 2026
  • Of more pressing concern is the man who now sits atop the Rangers’ pay structure, sharp-shooting wing and former Vegas Golden Knight Pavel Dorofeyev, who signed a seven-year deal which carries an average annual value of $11 million.
    — Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 15 July 2026
Definition of sit
Verb
  • Charlie Gardiner - Far Afield Once again blurring the boundaries between illustration and fashion, British menswear label Far Afield’s most recent collaboration celebrates the creative possibilities that emerge when disciplines intersect.
    — Roddy Clarke, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
  • For example, Weiss said, collecting scat along roads and trails does intersect with where wolves like to travel.
    — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of intersect
Verb
  • The route is winding and rolling, ducking inland through forest and prairie before curving back to hug the lake’s shoreline, with lots of turnoffs to stop and take in the views.
    — Stacy Conde, Midwest Living, 9 July 2026
  • But even if that route is taken, the Pacers would still have to make a waiver or cost-cutting move at some point before opening night in order to duck the first apron.
    — Tony East, Forbes.com, 8 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
  • The current accommodation comprises a four-bed, three-bath main residence of 3,500 square feet (325 square meters) and a separate two-bed, one-bath house roughly a third of the size.
    — Nielsen Dinwoodie, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
  • In addition to Loop Capital, the development coalition that comprises Oakland Acquisition Company includes sports agent Bill Duffy and real-estate developer Alan Dones.
    — Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 4 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 18 Jul. 2026.

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