1
as in perching
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 spanning
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 shaking
to agree with or seem to agree with two opposite sides of (something)
The politician straddled the issue for weeks.
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as in fence-sitting
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straddling
Verb
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Symptoms like a fast heart rate, or shortness of breath, shaking and chills, confusion or lethargy.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
24 Dec. 2024 -
In the video, a terrified Archie can be seen frozen, staring and shaking.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
23 Dec. 2024
Noun
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There’s merit in seeing both sides of an argument, but there’s no honor in fence-sitting forever, which is Alex’s fatal flaw.—
Anusha Praturu,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2025
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There’s merit in seeing both sides of an argument, but there’s no honor in fence-sitting forever, which is Alex’s fatal flaw.—
Anusha Praturu,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The Rockets came into Christmas Eve riding a three-game winning streak, now sitting at 20-9 and up to second overall in the Western Conference, behind just the Oklahoma City Thunder.—
Rahat Huq,
Forbes,
24 Dec. 2024
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Coach Doc River played the role of Secret Santa by sitting the Bucks’ two biggest stars — Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was dealing with back spasms, and Damian Lillard, who was out with a non-COVID-19 illness.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Both stimulate new growth but this is the time for slow growth so plants adapt to drought tolerance. • Use a sharp spray of water to clean plant leaves of dust, dirt, aphids, white flies and spider mites, whose presence is evident by tiny webs on leaves and stems.—
Nan Sterman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 July 2025
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Although oxygen tends to get most of the attention, this process is closely tied to carbon dioxide tolerance.—
Dana Santas,
CNN Money,
4 July 2025
Noun
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Soliman, a 45-year-old from Egypt, is now facing two first-degree murder charges – one for extreme indifference and the other with intent and after deliberation, the district attorney’s office said.—
Andi Babineau,
CNN Money,
30 June 2025
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The first count is first-degree murder under an extreme indifference theory and the second count is first-degree murder with intent after deliberation.—
Jennifer McRae,
CBS News,
30 June 2025
Verb
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Royal Family Christmas Traditions Charles and Queen Camilla will spend Christmas at Sandringham, the royal family's sprawling estate in Norfolk, as the royals do every year.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
23 Dec. 2024
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The sprawling case puts a spotlight on crisis publicists, who typically remain behind the scenes but have become the story here, with four separate agencies engulfed in the spectacle.—
Tatiana Siegel,
Variety,
23 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Straddling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straddling. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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