1
2
as in to span
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 to shake
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 straddle
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
The coastal Broward County 100th House district straddles Federal Highway from the south end of Fort Lauderdale north to the Palm Beach County line.
—
Anthony Man,
Sun Sentinel,
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
See All Example Sentences for straddle
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
The coastal Broward County 100th House district straddles Federal Highway from the south end of Fort Lauderdale north to the Palm Beach County line.
—
Anthony Man,
Sun Sentinel,
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
See All Example Sentences for straddle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straddle
Verb
-
Marie, perched between Lake Superior and Lake Huron and adjacent to its Canadian twin city of the same name.
-
Luna began the day hopping around, perching on the various trees near the nest.
Verb
-
Along with performances from artists spanning country, pop and R&B, viewers can experience a massive fireworks and drone show choreographed to a live score by the Grammy Award-winning Nashville Symphony.
-
Nadal has long been laying the foundation for a business portfolio that spans health, sport and education.
Verb
-
The iconic bunny costume moment, when Elle is tricked into showing up to a non-costume party wearing a Playboy bunny get-up, was the catalyst for exploring how Elle was able to shake that humiliation off.
-
This tournament has built credibility by showcasing teams competing at a high level, then shaking hands afterward.
Verb
-
He’s been known to blow up legislation, make surprise nominations, rage-post about sitting Republican lawmakers and retaliate by endorsing their primary opponents.
-
Nearly a year ago, CBS Colorado reported on the home, which had sat vacant for more than six years while falling into severe disrepair.
Verb
-
The unearthed quarters included north-south thoroughfares intersected by east-west streets, forming open squares and public spaces, said Hisham el-Leithy, secretary general of the supreme council of antiquities.
-
The exhibit also emphasizes the diverse communities at the Point, including soldiers, Indigenous nations, traders and settlers, whose lives intersected in ways that still echo in Pittsburgh’s identity today.
Verb
-
Collin Morikawa birdied 18 to catch Scheffler and ducked into the clubhouse at 20 under as the rains descended upon the TPC River Highlands.
-
The Thunder traded guards Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins to the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks, respectively, shedding their contracts to try to duck under the NBA’s punitive second-apron threshold.
Verb
-
His career essentially bestrides the slow-to-grow Before Times and the apparent soccer paradise of today, which was fortified by remarkable facilities, boosted by an ideal central location and forged by an eagerly welcoming host city that slugged above its weight to make this happen.
-
The Lone Star State is already a literal powerhouse that bestrides domestic energy production.
Verb
-
The current accommodation comprises a four-bed, three-bath main residence of 3,500 square feet (325 square meters) and a separate two-bed, one-bath house roughly a third of the size.
-
In addition to Loop Capital, the development coalition that comprises Oakland Acquisition Company includes sports agent Bill Duffy and real-estate developer Alan Dones.
Cite this Entry
“Straddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straddle. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
