as in fence-sitting
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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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Recent Examples of straddling
Tim Grierson, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2025
Look at The Market Place, a 130-store shopping center just off the 5 Freeway straddling Irvine and Tustin.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 16 Oct. 2025
But the adjacent plot straddling the riverbed has been taken over by galamsey workers after her brother leased his land to an Asian businessman.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 15 Oct. 2025
What unfolded instead was an awkward breakup, featuring Kacie crying, straddling and kissing Patrick, and admitting to cameras that she was not attracted to him.
—Joelle Goldstein, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
That geography has long placed the Central Asian nation at a crossroads, straddling both Europe and Asia.
—Nina Subkhanberdina, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
The first officer to arrive, Robert Allsup, broke through the front door and found Mohammed straddling the victim while holding a kitchen knife, Santa Clara police Chief Cory Morgan said at a news conference days after the shooting.
—Jason Green, Mercury News, 20 Sep. 2025
Puck reported that the staffer accused Murray of straddling her near a prop bed on set and kissing her on the mouth through the face masks that both were wearing under COVID-19 protocols.
—Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025
The deep alpine lake straddling the state lines of California and Nevada needs no introduction—Lake Tahoe’s sparkling, cobalt blue waters and sweeping Sierra Nevada mountain views have been mesmerizing people for centuries.
—Christina Pérez, Vogue, 30 Aug. 2025
Verb
In post-Matrix mode, Reeves tries to launch another franchise in a DC Comics adaptation about a man who can see spirits on Earth and is doomed to atone for a suicide attempt by straddling the divide twixt Heaven and Hell.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2025
Look at The Market Place, a 130-store shopping center just off the 5 Freeway straddling Irvine and Tustin.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 16 Oct. 2025
But the adjacent plot straddling the riverbed has been taken over by galamsey workers after her brother leased his land to an Asian businessman.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 15 Oct. 2025
What unfolded instead was an awkward breakup, featuring Kacie crying, straddling and kissing Patrick, and admitting to cameras that she was not attracted to him.
—Joelle Goldstein, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
That geography has long placed the Central Asian nation at a crossroads, straddling both Europe and Asia.
—Nina Subkhanberdina, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
The first officer to arrive, Robert Allsup, broke through the front door and found Mohammed straddling the victim while holding a kitchen knife, Santa Clara police Chief Cory Morgan said at a news conference days after the shooting.
—Jason Green, Mercury News, 20 Sep. 2025
Puck reported that the staffer accused Murray of straddling her near a prop bed on set and kissing her on the mouth through the face masks that both were wearing under COVID-19 protocols.
—Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025
The deep alpine lake straddling the state lines of California and Nevada needs no introduction—Lake Tahoe’s sparkling, cobalt blue waters and sweeping Sierra Nevada mountain views have been mesmerizing people for centuries.
—Christina Pérez, Vogue, 30 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straddling
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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The outcome of this exceptionally tight presidential race may turn on whether Harris, in these final days of the campaign, can convince enough fence-sitting voters to embrace that message.—
David Lauter,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Other photos show it while perching on the plant.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
2 Oct. 2025
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TikTok users were able to see two cats perching over a bathroom sink, which had been filled with tap water.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Mirren’s credits include The Queen, The Madness of King George, Red, the Fast & Furious franchise, Gosford Park, Trumbo and Hitchcock, among many others, and her decades-spanning career have earned her various accolades such as an Oscar, five Emmys, SAG, BAFTA and a Tony Award.—
Beatrice Verhoeven,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Nov. 2025
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Paramount+ will stream live coverage of the full PBR Unleash The Beast, a competition spanning five months in 19 cities across 17 states.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Start the process by vigorously shaking or hanging then pounding the rug to remove loose dirt, crumbs, and other particles, then vacuum it thoroughly on both sides, using a canister vacuum with the hose or a high pile setting—and no beater bar!—
Jennifer Beck Goldblatt,
Architectural Digest,
31 Oct. 2025
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Part of it was that Mark Kerr was sitting right beside him, shaking through the entire film—for many reasons.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Glucose tolerance tests show that blood sugar was better regulated, too.—
Brenda Goodman,
CNN Money,
4 Nov. 2025
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Cold showers are easier and safer for most people, offering a more convenient way to get the energy and mood benefits while building tolerance to cold exposure.—
T'Keyah Bazin,
Verywell Health,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The reason for the parade of customers, many of them first-time visitors, was the boxes of free fruits and vegetables -- apples, tomatoes, lettuce, potatoes and onions -- sitting atop two tables and inside multiple boxes under them.—
Daniel McFadin,
Arkansas Online,
4 Nov. 2025
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Zhang said that North America and Europe now comprise close to 40% of the company’s revenue after sitting at zero just a few years ago.—
Leo Schwartz,
Fortune,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The types of care proposed for the campus on Rosecrans attempt to ensure that there is a smooth ramp of services capable of intersecting with a wide range of symptom severity, from moderate anxiety to suicidal ideation.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Oct. 2025
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The EPs build upon that song, fully celebrating themes of family, love and emotional struggle, wrapping it in sounds intersecting modern country and Latin music.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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For a moment, Smith became overwhelmed, ducking to the side of the pillar while wiping tears away.—
Nick Kosmider,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
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While on The Tonight Show, Swift appeared shy when discussing the song’s lyrics, ducking her head down as the house band the Roots began playing a sensual tune.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Straddling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straddling. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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