1
as in perches
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 spans
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 shakes
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
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Recent Examples of straddles
Strawberry beige Like a glass of Veuve Clicquot garnished with berries, this strawberry-beige color straddles the line between upscale polish and whimsy.
—
Loren Savini, Allure, 14 Feb. 2026
The 210-acre land mass mostly surrounds the future Costco, which is expected to open in the latter half of the year, and straddles the southern edge of City of Oconomowoc and the Village of Summit.
—Jim Riccioli, jsonline.com, 9 Feb. 2026
Its members include storyboard artists, character designers, animators, animation writers, and more people whose work straddles visual art and technology.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 Feb. 2026
This climate fiction time travel adventure straddles three timelines.
—Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
The bighorn herd that straddles the frontier will be severed.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
If the tree trunk or bush straddles the property line, both property owners are responsible for caring for shared trees and other shrubbery.
—Josh Kelly, Oklahoman, 22 Jan. 2026
The park straddles the state line between Tennessee and North Carolina.
—Mark Price
january 9, Charlotte Observer, 9 Jan. 2026
Silver, on the other hand, straddles two worlds.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
Loren Savini, Allure, 14 Feb. 2026
The 210-acre land mass mostly surrounds the future Costco, which is expected to open in the latter half of the year, and straddles the southern edge of City of Oconomowoc and the Village of Summit.
—Jim Riccioli, jsonline.com, 9 Feb. 2026
Its members include storyboard artists, character designers, animators, animation writers, and more people whose work straddles visual art and technology.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 Feb. 2026
This climate fiction time travel adventure straddles three timelines.
—Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
The bighorn herd that straddles the frontier will be severed.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
If the tree trunk or bush straddles the property line, both property owners are responsible for caring for shared trees and other shrubbery.
—Josh Kelly, Oklahoman, 22 Jan. 2026
The park straddles the state line between Tennessee and North Carolina.
—Mark Price
january 9, Charlotte Observer, 9 Jan. 2026
Silver, on the other hand, straddles two worlds.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straddles
Verb
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Even the squirrels in the backyard and the bird that perches on the deck are put on notice.—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The Ringed Kingfisher perches up to 30 feet above the surface, watching for medium-size fish and then plunging in headfirst with a mighty splash.—
Cecilia Rodriguez,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Going on a trip that spans the beach, a city, and a safari?—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 Feb. 2026
-
This ensures our testing base spans different skin tones, genders, and dermatological conditions.—
Allure,
Allure,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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When Dana peeks in and Robby simply shakes his head no?—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Thinking back to the days leading up to the 2025 Daytona 500, Sarah Turner Wells shakes her head in astonishment.—
Jordan Bianchi,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The neighborhood/area Nestled along Pinney's Beach, the property sits just minutes from museums, plantation homes, and historic churches dating to the 1600s.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Feb. 2026
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Originally built as vacation homes in 1973, Muralla Roja (also known as the Red Wall) was meant to bring tourists to the seaside town of Calpe, which sits between Valencia and Alicante.—
Annabelle Dufraigne,
Architectural Digest,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This dynamic also intersects with broader investment trends.—
Monica Sanders,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
-
The challenge is conceived as a platform for free creative expression, encouraging participants to move beyond traditional definitions and explore accessories as a language that intersects making, technology and personal vision.—
Fairchild Studio,
Footwear News,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The sun ducks down and sets Conejo Mountain against warm pinks and purples, transforming the ridgeline into an epic silhouette.—
Brian Hamilton,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
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Dignitaries would climb up Bab al Silsilah, a narrow limestone street that ducks under an arched gate.—
Ryan Byrnes,
Literary Hub,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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There are five bedrooms in all, one on the garden level that is well-suited to guests or staff, while the primary suite sprawls over an entire floor with a sitting room, two dressing rooms, and a private terrace.—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
13 Feb. 2026
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The covered outdoor seating sprawls across multiple patios and bars, and there’s even some tables on the docks themselves.—
Skye Sherman,
Southern Living,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Experts who spoke to Flow Space are hopeful that these new approvals will provide the necessary tools to treat a disease that evades treatment by constantly mutating.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
16 Dec. 2025
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In the film, Sea-Based X-Band Radar detects a missile flying across the Pacific Ocean toward Chicago that later evades interception.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Straddles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straddles. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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