straddling 1 of 2

straddling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of straddle
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.

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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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 straddling
Verb
At her white adoptive family’s estate, Thina (26), a Black surgeon straddling two worlds, prepares for her wedding with a woke Black fiancé and her white adoptive sister – her best friend. John Hopewell, Variety, 14 July 2026 The deputies yell at Stingley, in prone position, to stop resisting and at various times, one deputy kneels over Stingley, straddling his back and pressing his knee down on Stingley’s buttocks. Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 13 July 2026 Since graduating from the YA fantasy series, Pattinson has become one of our most interesting actors, straddling the space between indie and mainstream filmmaking. Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 3 July 2026 The race’s start location means that the Pyrenees, straddling the French-Spanish border, are visited exceptionally early. Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 1 July 2026 While Venezuela sits near multiple fault lines, its position straddling the South American and Caribbean plates makes strong earthquakes much less common than in other parts of Latin America. ABC News, 26 June 2026 While Venezuela sits near multiple fault lines, its position straddling the South American and Caribbean plates makes strong earthquakes much less common than in other parts of Latin America. Megan Janetsky, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026 While the country sits near multiple fault lines, its position straddling the South American and Caribbean plates makes earthquakes much less common than in other parts of Latin America. CBS News, 25 June 2026 Prosecutors say the original driver of the Genesis who Baez was straddling in the street as well as the passenger who then jumped behind the wheel may have been involved in the SUV theft. Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 12 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straddling
Noun
  • Lower mortgage rates will spur some fence-sitting buyers into action and increase sales volumes over last year.
    Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2026
  • 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
  • Sandy was spotted later in the day perching on top of a sugar pine tree.
    Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 2 July 2026
  • Even a swooping hawk couldn’t resist perching on a tree overlooking the makeshift stage.
    Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • The tour visited five US cities over the course of two years, spanning the 50th anniversary of the first Moon landing in 2019.
    Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 15 July 2026
  • Both solo suites and standard suites are identical, spanning 280 square feet with a seating area with a sofa, a table, a desk, and a wardrobe.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026
Verb
  • He is later seen greeting incarcerated men in the prison canteen, shaking hands and performing with several inmates serving as his backing band.
    ABC News, ABC News, 18 July 2026
  • Jelly then enters the prison canteen, greeting hundreds of other inmates and shaking their hands.
    Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026
Noun
  • Trump does not seem to comprehend that Iran has a higher pain tolerance than America.
    Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 19 July 2026
  • Choose investments that align with your financial goals, risk tolerance and time horizon.
    Elizabeth Gravier,Dan Avery, CNBC, 16 July 2026
Verb
  • Victims of this manipulation scheme, Nathan and Aesha conspire to impose on the dinner’s seating arrangements in such a way that Luke is sitting next to Joy, and Gen is isolated at the end of the table.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 14 July 2026
  • Tens of thousands of pets ended up at poison control last year over one hazard sitting quietly in gardens, kitchens and living rooms.
    Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026
Verb
  • With 24 main characters interwoven around the town of Nashville, home of country music and intersecting political undercurrents, the film tries to make sense of the chaos.
    Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026
  • Each film will center on a different member of the Beatles’ point of view, intersecting to capture the band’s improbable journey from Liverpool to the center of global culture, culminating in their 1970 breakup.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 12 June 2026
Verb
  • The route is winding and rolling, ducking inland through forest and prairie before curving back to hug the lake’s shoreline, with lots of turnoffs to stop and take in the views.
    Stacy Conde, Midwest Living, 9 July 2026
  • Some of them wear face paint, camouflage uniforms, and ghillie suits — ducking in and out of foxholes cut into the ground.
    Avery Schmitz, CNN Money, 24 June 2026

Cite this Entry

“Straddling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straddling. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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