1
as in perches
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 spans
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 shakes
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 straddles
Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore The Indonesian archipelago straddles many of the waterways governing access between the Indian Ocean and the rest of East Asia, which hasn’t escaped the notice of Indonesian officials.
—
Angelica Ang, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
The city of New London, which straddles Waupaca and Outagamie counties, urgently requested volunteers for sandbagging efforts Friday morning.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2026
The latter will show exactly where your boundary lines fall and whether the fence sits on one side or straddles the line.
—Sheila Kim, The Spruce, 15 Apr. 2026
The body of water straddles the border between Albania and North Macedonia, and it’s surrounded by ancient villages, rolling hills, and beaches.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 14 Apr. 2026
Russell’s lengthy career also straddles film and TV.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 14 Apr. 2026
The astronauts focused some of their observations on Orientale basin, a nearly 600-mile-wide crater that straddles the moon’s near and far sides.
—Denise Chow, NBC news, 11 Apr. 2026
Named for a ferry operator and tavern along the Schuylkill River, Grays Ferry straddles the river, just below University City.
—Kaitlyn McCormick, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026
The property straddles both sides of Chisholm Trail Parkway.
—Samuel O’Neal 8, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Apr. 2026
Angelica Ang, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
The city of New London, which straddles Waupaca and Outagamie counties, urgently requested volunteers for sandbagging efforts Friday morning.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2026
The latter will show exactly where your boundary lines fall and whether the fence sits on one side or straddles the line.
—Sheila Kim, The Spruce, 15 Apr. 2026
The body of water straddles the border between Albania and North Macedonia, and it’s surrounded by ancient villages, rolling hills, and beaches.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 14 Apr. 2026
Russell’s lengthy career also straddles film and TV.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 14 Apr. 2026
The astronauts focused some of their observations on Orientale basin, a nearly 600-mile-wide crater that straddles the moon’s near and far sides.
—Denise Chow, NBC news, 11 Apr. 2026
Named for a ferry operator and tavern along the Schuylkill River, Grays Ferry straddles the river, just below University City.
—Kaitlyn McCormick, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026
The property straddles both sides of Chisholm Trail Parkway.
—Samuel O’Neal 8, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for straddles
Verb
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Live streams from entertainment events like the Grammys or Golden Globes aren’t typically perches for controversy, but, says Anthony McCartney, AP’s entertainment and lifestyles editor, celebrities will sometimes be asked to weigh in on recent headlines.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
16 Mar. 2026
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Even the squirrels in the backyard and the bird that perches on the deck are put on notice.—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That working group spans multiple federal agencies, including the VA.—
Lisa Hagen,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
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The story spans from 1929 through to the present day, tracing Fei’s decades-long pursuit of both her music and an unresolved bond with Kai.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a reception, held on Victory Day marking the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, May 9, 2025.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
15 Apr. 2026
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Protein shakes can be made with milk or water.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The rugged island—the fourth-largest in the Mediterranean Sea—sits southeast of the French Riviera and deserves much more time than a quick stroll around the port.—
Lane Nieset,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Apr. 2026
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The conference site sits near a major Colombian fuel-storage terminal, highlighting the tension between climate ambitions and the fossil-fuel dependency.—
Fabiano Maisonnave,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The block is near where Quebec intersects with Interstate 70.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
7 Apr. 2026
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Still, advocacy groups argue that the visibility of the movement—and the expansion of its target list—may have longer‑term reputational effects, particularly as consumer activism increasingly intersects with debates over wages, corporate concentration, and media influence.—
Amanda Greenwood,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In the video, the subject ducks his head in the opposite direction of the doorbell camera.—
Michael Ruiz , Adam Sabes , Christina Dugan Ramirez , Sarah Rumpf-Whitten , Julia Bonavita , Peter D'Abrosca , Alexandra Koch , Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
3 Feb. 2026
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The sun ducks down and sets Conejo Mountain against warm pinks and purples, transforming the ridgeline into an epic silhouette.—
Brian Hamilton,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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If your budget stretches to it, the 6,700-square-foot Royal Suite sprawls across the entire top floor of the building closest to the sea, with endless ocean views and multiple terraces featuring an outdoor pool and a jacuzzi.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Apr. 2026
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The city of Los Angeles sprawls across roughly 500 square miles, creating logistical hurdles if nothing else for a candidate seeking citywide office from a remote location, noted Democratic political consultant Mike Trujillo.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Mr Cobra evades most classification from there, blending free jazz, musique concrète, ’00s pop, house, industrial techno, and air horns, interlaced with dialogue snipped from Korean folk operas and experimental films.—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
17 Apr. 2026
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But even if Booker’s appearance evades the FCC’s scrutiny, the commission is closely watching TV talk programs, with The View in particular a subject of interest.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Straddles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/straddles. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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