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 astronauts focused some of their observations on Orientale basin, a nearly 600-mile-wide crater that straddles the moon’s near and far sides.
—
Denise Chow, NBC news, 11 Apr. 2026
Named for a ferry operator and tavern along the Schuylkill River, Grays Ferry straddles the river, just below University City.
—Kaitlyn McCormick, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026
The property straddles both sides of Chisholm Trail Parkway.
—Samuel O’Neal 8, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Apr. 2026
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
For most children, the age of the dinosaur straddles years four and five.
—Elena Megalos, Longreads, 31 Mar. 2026
Denise Chow, NBC news, 11 Apr. 2026
Named for a ferry operator and tavern along the Schuylkill River, Grays Ferry straddles the river, just below University City.
—Kaitlyn McCormick, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026
The property straddles both sides of Chisholm Trail Parkway.
—Samuel O’Neal 8, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Apr. 2026
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
For most children, the age of the dinosaur straddles years four and five.
—Elena Megalos, Longreads, 31 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straddles
Verb
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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
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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
Verb
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The beachside land spans Captiva’s Laika Lane and Captiva Drive, according to the Fort Myers News-Press.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
7 Apr. 2026
-
In 2023, a suspect was initially arrested in connection with several of the deaths in a case that now spans over two decades, with victims who were found in multiple locations on Long Island.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Rx bars were fanned out on a silver platter, Lean Body shakes dotted the table, cups of Chobani were arranged in a pyramid.—
Sam Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
9 Apr. 2026
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Use protein powders in smoothies or shakes to help fill nutrient gaps.—
Amy Brownstein,
Verywell Health,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The restaurant sits along a busy stretch of Route 22, a heavily trafficked commercial corridor in Union County.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
12 Apr. 2026
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Khartoum, a metropolis of 7 million, sits at the confluence of tributaries, a sort of Pittsburgh-on-the-Nile.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The block is near where Quebec intersects with Interstate 70.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
7 Apr. 2026
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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
Verb
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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
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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
Verb
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High up on a ridge overlooking the rolling grasslands of northern Montana’s Great Plains, the vast ancestral land of the Blackfeet Nation sprawls before me.—
Karen Gardiner,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Apr. 2026
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The city of Los Angeles sprawls across roughly 500 square miles, creating logistical hurdles if nothing else for a candidate seeking citywide office from a remote location, noted Democratic political consultant Mike Trujillo.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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
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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 14 Apr. 2026.
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