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.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
3
as in shakes
to agree with or seem to agree with two opposite sides of (something)
The politician straddled the issue for weeks.
Related Words
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 straddles
The bones of a diverging diamond intersection have been laid at the site, which straddles the border between Kansas City and Lee’s Summit, cutting along View High Drive.
—
Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 6 Apr. 2026
Orientale straddles the line between the near and far sides of the moon, showing how the Artemis II astronauts are already getting a look at normally unseen features.
—CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
And Amarantha accepts, then straddles him right there in the gazebo.
—Lincee Ray, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Apr. 2026
Such is also the case with Lake Gaston in Bracey, which straddles the border between the two states.
—Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 2 Apr. 2026
Now put it deep inside a cave that straddles the border of two countries — and fill it with 111,000 spiders from two species that normally eat each other.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Mar. 2026
For most children, the age of the dinosaur straddles years four and five.
—Elena Megalos, Longreads, 31 Mar. 2026
With her eyes closed, Frenza straddles a huge felled tree covered in moss.
—Agnieszka Szpila, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
His Floyd constantly straddles the line between sweet and pathetic, often falling off one side or the other.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 6 Apr. 2026
Orientale straddles the line between the near and far sides of the moon, showing how the Artemis II astronauts are already getting a look at normally unseen features.
—CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
And Amarantha accepts, then straddles him right there in the gazebo.
—Lincee Ray, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Apr. 2026
Such is also the case with Lake Gaston in Bracey, which straddles the border between the two states.
—Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 2 Apr. 2026
Now put it deep inside a cave that straddles the border of two countries — and fill it with 111,000 spiders from two species that normally eat each other.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Mar. 2026
For most children, the age of the dinosaur straddles years four and five.
—Elena Megalos, Longreads, 31 Mar. 2026
With her eyes closed, Frenza straddles a huge felled tree covered in moss.
—Agnieszka Szpila, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
His Floyd constantly straddles the line between sweet and pathetic, often falling off one side or the other.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straddles
Verb
-
Live streams from entertainment events like the Grammys or Golden Globes aren’t typically perches for controversy, but, says Anthony McCartney, AP’s entertainment and lifestyles editor, celebrities will sometimes be asked to weigh in on recent headlines.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Even the squirrels in the backyard and the bird that perches on the deck are put on notice.—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The park spans nearly 1 million square kilometers to the east of the Great Barrier Reef.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The construction spans 5 miles between West Burleigh Street and West Good Hope Road and includes multiple ramp improvements and roadway rehabilitation.—
Adrienne Davis,
jsonline.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Hayden, working the grill behind her husband, laughs and shakes her head with a slight eye roll the way only a loving wife can.—
Matthew Odam,
Austin American Statesman,
2 Apr. 2026
-
In the process, the capsule shakes pretty aggressively.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This site, at Tala'at Ad-Dam, sits along an ancient pilgrimage route to Jerusalem, one Jesus' parents were said to have walked.—
Seth Doane,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Hiking, mountain biking, and trail rides are options for all ages at this property that sits within the Rincon Mountains and adjacent to Saguaro National Park and Coronado National Forest.—
Julie Bielenberg,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Still, advocacy groups argue that the visibility of the movement—and the expansion of its target list—may have longer‑term reputational effects, particularly as consumer activism increasingly intersects with debates over wages, corporate concentration, and media influence.—
Amanda Greenwood,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The block intersects Central Avenue in east Charlotte, maps show.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In the video, the subject ducks his head in the opposite direction of the doorbell camera.—
Michael Ruiz , Adam Sabes , Christina Dugan Ramirez , Sarah Rumpf-Whitten , Julia Bonavita , Peter D'Abrosca , Alexandra Koch , Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
3 Feb. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Stripped back to just Stephen O’Malley and Greg Anderson, the drone-metal titans explore the minutiae of microtonal vibrations on an album that sprawls like land art.—
Daniel Bromfield,
Pitchfork,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The spa itself sprawls 64,000 square feet and has a cluster of treatment pavilions, fitness centers, and outdoor pools where hydrotherapy sessions are performed (my partner turned to jelly after a particularly effective water shiatsu session).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But even if Booker’s appearance evades the FCC’s scrutiny, the commission is closely watching TV talk programs, with The View in particular a subject of interest.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Mar. 2026
-
But how does one set out to write a biography about the creation of an author who not only can’t be reached, but actively evades the spotlight?—
Costa Beavin Pappas,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Straddles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straddles. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
