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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Recent Examples of straddles
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
Glenrio straddles the New Mexico-Texas border and is home to a famous 1968 Pontiac Catalina.
—Pam Leblanc, Southern Living, 3 Jan. 2026
Some opponents near the site, which straddles the New Haven line, claimed allowing the biggest apartment building in town there would generate excessive traffic and risk driving up enrollment in public schools.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 2 Jan. 2026
The scene straddles high and low emotions — none of their four children lived past infancy, trauma that shaped the trajectory of the Shakers.
—Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 22 Dec. 2025
There are few national parks as extreme as Death Valley National Park, which straddles the border of California and Nevada.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 15 Dec. 2025
The look demonstrated a genius way to dress when the temperature straddles freezing and comfortably chilly.
—Kayla Blanton, PEOPLE, 8 Dec. 2025
Short Creek, a community that straddles Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Arizona, has endured the brunt of a current measles outbreak.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 2 Nov. 2025
Mark Price
january 9, Charlotte Observer, 9 Jan. 2026
Silver, on the other hand, straddles two worlds.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
Glenrio straddles the New Mexico-Texas border and is home to a famous 1968 Pontiac Catalina.
—Pam Leblanc, Southern Living, 3 Jan. 2026
Some opponents near the site, which straddles the New Haven line, claimed allowing the biggest apartment building in town there would generate excessive traffic and risk driving up enrollment in public schools.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 2 Jan. 2026
The scene straddles high and low emotions — none of their four children lived past infancy, trauma that shaped the trajectory of the Shakers.
—Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 22 Dec. 2025
There are few national parks as extreme as Death Valley National Park, which straddles the border of California and Nevada.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 15 Dec. 2025
The look demonstrated a genius way to dress when the temperature straddles freezing and comfortably chilly.
—Kayla Blanton, PEOPLE, 8 Dec. 2025
Short Creek, a community that straddles Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Arizona, has endured the brunt of a current measles outbreak.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 2 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straddles
Verb
-
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
-
And frequent appearances by a pigeon that perches on her windowsill like a Greek chorus, mocking her self-abasement and growing detachment from reality, seem a tad heavy-handed.—
Book Marks
August 28,
Literary Hub,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Its portfolio spans classic coach tours, small-group active trips, private departures, and specialty journeys focused on themes like food, history, and nature, with Europe remaining its strongest suit.—
Josh Roberts,
USA Today,
10 Jan. 2026
-
The rivalry between the Bears and Packers spans more than a century, beginning with their first matchup in 1921.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Kicking off the Year With Self-Care These days, her morning ritual also includes Premier Protein shakes.—
Leslie D. Rose,
Parents,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Berto is seen walking back to his truck, while the Tahoe driver walks toward the front end of the Tahoe, looks down at the bumper and shakes his head before turning to point the firearm at Berto, the affidavit said.—
Timia Cobb
Breaking News Reporter,
Dallas Morning News,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Per its Sotheby's auction listing, scrolls of diamonds are interrupted by sparkling floral motifs, while a romantic heart emblem sits at the center.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
8 Jan. 2026
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The city, which sits just north of Indianapolis, was ranked the best place to live in the Midwest, according to a report from Livability, which focuses on small-to-medium sized cities.—
Opheli Garcia Lawler,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Saturday, near where East Hampden intersects South Galena Street, according to an alert from the Denver Police Department.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
6 Jan. 2026
-
At Techfest 2025, a humanoid robot unexpectedly joined that cultural moment, reinforcing how robotics now intersects with popular media.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Dec. 2025
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
-
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’s plenty to keep you busy in and around the resort in all seasons, from horseback rides and golf to yoga and wellness rituals at Spa Montage, which sprawls over 11,000 square feet.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Dec. 2025
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The larger galaxy, NGC 4490, sprawls across the frame in a tangle of dust and newborn stars, dominating the left side of the image.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
4 Dec. 2025
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 11 Jan. 2026.
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