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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of straddling
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
There’s a fine line between lucky and cursed, however, and Pulisic is straddling it.
—
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2026
Istanbul, Turkey Istanbul’s walkability comes from its layered history and dramatic setting straddling Europe and Asia.
—
Laura Begley Bloom,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
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
There’s a fine line between lucky and cursed, however, and Pulisic is straddling it.
—
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2026
Istanbul, Turkey Istanbul’s walkability comes from its layered history and dramatic setting straddling Europe and Asia.
—
Laura Begley Bloom,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straddling
Noun
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Lower mortgage rates will spur some fence-sitting buyers into action and increase sales volumes over last year.
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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.
Verb
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Even a swooping hawk couldn’t resist perching on a tree overlooking the makeshift stage.
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Chickens are a common sight in the Yuba-Sutter region — wandering neighborhoods, perching in trees, and sometimes causing a little trouble.
Verb
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The Colorado attorney general oversees more than 700 attorneys and staff and manages legal manners spanning consumer protection, civil rights, criminal, water, constitutional and environmental law.
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The announcement came after South Korea announced on Monday three massive investment projects spanning semiconductors, physical AI and AI data centers.
Verb
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This tournament has built credibility by showcasing teams competing at a high level, then shaking hands afterward.
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An earth-shaking roar The World Cup finally arrived in Kansas City after several years of preparation and anticipation.
Noun
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For example, a person with a high tolerance with opioids would see reduced tolerance under the drug.
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The state’s Holocaust Education Bill, passed in 1994, requires every school district to teach the Holocaust with the explicit aim of building tolerance, nurturing democratic values, and confronting what indifference produces.
Verb
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Trump had campaigned on restricting birthright citizenship, arguing that the citizenship clause had been misinterpreted, and attended the April 2026 oral arguments in a first for a sitting president.
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Team mentality spurs decisions The A’s were sitting at 40-44 heading into Tuesday, three games out of the American League West lead and 2 1/2 games out of the final AL Wild Card spot.
Verb
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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.
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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.
Verb
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Some of them wear face paint, camouflage uniforms, and ghillie suits — ducking in and out of foxholes cut into the ground.
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Guests can walk along the nearby Rim Village Promenade before ducking into its lobby to enjoy the cozy fireplace, Mission furniture, and tree trunk columns.
Cite this Entry
“Straddling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straddling. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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