1
as in perched
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 spanned
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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3
as in shook
to agree with or seem to agree with two opposite sides of (something)
The politician straddled the issue for weeks.
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Recent Examples of straddled
The tensions are evident and the frosty relations between the countries are constantly straddled by administrators.
—
Tristan Lavalette, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Billed as Sublime with Rome, the project straddled the line between tribute act and reinvention.
—Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
In Tennessee, Vrabel’s defenses straddled league average most years.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 31 Aug. 2025
Unlike previous starts this season, Verlander wouldn’t be straddled with a no decision due to a lack of offense.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 31 Aug. 2025
Arsenal’s first four goals were struck across a 22-minute burst that straddled half-time.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 24 Aug. 2025
The best response to being straddled by Jonathan Groff?
—EW.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Airbnb beat second-quarter forecasts and issued third-quarter sales guidance that straddled analysts' estimates.
—Medora Lee, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2025
Tristan Lavalette, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Billed as Sublime with Rome, the project straddled the line between tribute act and reinvention.
—Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
In Tennessee, Vrabel’s defenses straddled league average most years.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 31 Aug. 2025
Unlike previous starts this season, Verlander wouldn’t be straddled with a no decision due to a lack of offense.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 31 Aug. 2025
Arsenal’s first four goals were struck across a 22-minute burst that straddled half-time.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 24 Aug. 2025
The best response to being straddled by Jonathan Groff?
—EW.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Airbnb beat second-quarter forecasts and issued third-quarter sales guidance that straddled analysts' estimates.
—Medora Lee, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straddled
Verb
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Because the dune would eliminate some beach space, the plan could include a new perched or elevated beach.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Sep. 2025
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That addition to Ellison’s net worth—which also includes a rather expansive property portfolio—means that his total fortune is perched at a $393 billion.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The three former officials, whose careers collectively spanned over six decades of law enforcement experience across the ranks of the FBI, allege that the firings violated their due process rights as well as their First Amendment rights to free association and speech.—
Luke Barr,
ABC News,
16 Sep. 2025
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The plant—and particularly the liverwurst product made there—was determined to be the source of a Listeria outbreak that spanned May to September of last year, sickening at least 61 people across 19 states.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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A week after suffering a gut-punch loss to Nevada in Reno when two winning touchdowns were called back in the final moment and a tying field goal with seconds to play just missed, Sac State shook off early jitters to unleash a balanced offense in improving to 1-2.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
14 Sep. 2025
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Just three months ago, Israel and Iran fought a 12-day war that shook the Middle East.—
Ian Bremmer,
Time,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Emilie Schleer, a 37-year-old mother of two, spoke of the brazen break-in that occurred at her South End home in July, when a homeless woman squatted in her residence while her family was away for the weekend.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
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She’s squatted on her heels within a tight copse of five or six stones leaning like dolmens, chin on chest as if an engrossing thing lies between her feet.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The genetic genealogy pointed to a multigenerational Pennsylvania family that intersected with Italian heritage only twice.—
Michael Ruiz , Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
6 Sep. 2025
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Various storylines echoed the events of the film — and one supporting character in Season One briefly intersected with the plot of original recipe Fargo.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Videos circulating online showed the gruesome scene as Kirk slumped over, and people ducked to the ground before running away and huddling in nearby buildings.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
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Some instinctively ducked, covered their classmates or followed teachers’ directions.—
Dalia Faheid,
CNN Money,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Levi Jones, a 33-year-old business owner, pulled up to Sacred Eye Tattoos in Hollywood last week and sat for eight hours getting a photorealistic black-and-white portrait of Mangione on his leg.—
Amanda Rosa,
Orlando Sentinel,
24 Dec. 2024
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The birthday boy and his big sister Sterling Skye, 3, each sat between one of their parents’ laps.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
24 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Straddled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straddled. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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