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
Another is the rise in millennials, straddled by student loan debt and lower wages than their parents, moving out later or moving back home after school.
—
Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 3 Mar. 2026
Norway's Atle Lie McGrath, the first-run leader, straddled a gate and was out.
—ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026
Guthrie’s street straddled a light green and a light orange section.
—Sarah Lapidus, AZCentral.com, 12 Feb. 2026
In Latakia, a giant bronze figure was knocked over and then dragged through the streets as people straddled its head like a Jet Ski.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2026
The Toronto Maple Leafs have typically straddled the limits of the NHL’s dress code.
—Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
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
Purdy correctly straddled the line on the play between being safe and taking a shot.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 1 Dec. 2025
Paytas has straddled the stage, screen and podcast studio since her Broadway debut earlier this year.
—Lex Goldstein, PEOPLE, 30 Nov. 2025
Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 3 Mar. 2026
Norway's Atle Lie McGrath, the first-run leader, straddled a gate and was out.
—ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026
Guthrie’s street straddled a light green and a light orange section.
—Sarah Lapidus, AZCentral.com, 12 Feb. 2026
In Latakia, a giant bronze figure was knocked over and then dragged through the streets as people straddled its head like a Jet Ski.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2026
The Toronto Maple Leafs have typically straddled the limits of the NHL’s dress code.
—Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
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
Purdy correctly straddled the line on the play between being safe and taking a shot.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 1 Dec. 2025
Paytas has straddled the stage, screen and podcast studio since her Broadway debut earlier this year.
—Lex Goldstein, PEOPLE, 30 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straddled
Verb
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Fufu Tokyo Ginza is an urban oasis in every sense—34 suites with private gardens and natural hot spring baths sourced from Atami, all perched above the Ginza 1-chome intersection with direct metro access below.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Mar. 2026
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Putnam scouted a prize parcel perched just above tree line at 7,200 feet, far from roads, power lines, and any other signs of civilization.—
Jen Murphy,
Robb Report,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Corey Parker, a versatile actor whose career spanned film, television and mentoring young performers, has died, according to TMZ.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Mostly for the telephone and telegraph, but his other inventions spanned interests and included a metal jacket to assist in breathing, the audiometer to detect minor hearing problems and a device to locate icebergs,In January 1915, Bell made the first ceremonial transcontinental telephone call.—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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No serious injuries were reported, but the extent of the fire shook residents of the north, who have repeatedly been told by their leaders that Hezbollah was dealt a devastating blow in 2024 during its last war with Israel.—
Natalie Melzer,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
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With the blessing of Byers and basketball committee chairman Gavitt, the three parties — NCAA, CBS, and the Hyatt — shook hands.—
Bill Hancock,
Kansas City Star,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Beneath it, a man squatted on the pavement, staring at nothing in particular, a glass pipe drooping from his fingers.—
Sam Kriss,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Many of those Mexicans saw their property squatted on or seized by the courts of their new nation.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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On Sunday, Skip Schumaker’s passions — baseball and community investment through the Jessie Rees Foundation — intersected.—
Evan Grant,
Dallas Morning News,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Their lives intersected at the end when they were killed in a mass shooting in Austin’s bustling Sixth Street entertainment district.—
Holly Yan,
CNN Money,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The famously-outgoing point guard ducked her head bashfully as Huskies stars Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong shook her shoulders in celebration while freshman Kelis Fisher tossed a handful of confetti into her face.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
10 Mar. 2026
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Knight ducked her head and smiled when the medal was hung around her neck, her face a mix of pride and exhaustion.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
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 14 Mar. 2026.
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