1
2
as in diagonally
in a line or direction running from corner to corner
we hung the twisted strips of crepe paper athwart to the floor and ceiling so that they formed giant crosses on all four walls
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 athwart
John Fabian Witt, The New Republic, 26 Aug. 2022
One of the world’s largest container ships was wedged athwart the Suez canal on March 24th, apparently blown off course by high winds.
—The Economist, 24 Mar. 2021
One of the world’s largest container ships was wedged athwart the Suez Canal on March 23rd, blown off course by high winds.
—The Economist, 27 Mar. 2021
The outgoing Trump administration is standing athwart a massive investment management trend.
—Michael Taylor, ExpressNews.com, 2 Dec. 2020
Her mother, feeling abandoned by her constantly traveling husband, had affairs; her father’s heartfelt liberalism would run athwart of the postwar Red Scare.
—Elsa Dixler, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Apr. 2020
Indeed, instead of ostentatious acts of helping people, the administration almost preferred being seen standing athwart attempts to provide relief.
—Alex Pareene, The New Republic, 20 Dec. 2019
Preposition
An obstructionist Supreme Court, however, stood athwart the New Deal’s path.
—John Fabian Witt, The New Republic, 26 Aug. 2022
One of the world’s largest container ships was wedged athwart the Suez canal on March 24th, apparently blown off course by high winds.
—The Economist, 24 Mar. 2021
One of the world’s largest container ships was wedged athwart the Suez Canal on March 23rd, blown off course by high winds.
—The Economist, 27 Mar. 2021
The outgoing Trump administration is standing athwart a massive investment management trend.
—Michael Taylor, ExpressNews.com, 2 Dec. 2020
Her mother, feeling abandoned by her constantly traveling husband, had affairs; her father’s heartfelt liberalism would run athwart of the postwar Red Scare.
—Elsa Dixler, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Apr. 2020
Indeed, instead of ostentatious acts of helping people, the administration almost preferred being seen standing athwart attempts to provide relief.
—Alex Pareene, The New Republic, 20 Dec. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for athwart
Adverb
-
The first part is extra tricky because this is a year with two off weeks per team, so not many will be playing straight through for the first six weeks.—
Stewart Mandel,
New York Times,
30 July 2025
-
Its next-door neighbor is sister attraction Ripley’s Mirror Maze, which messes with your mind with reflections (and reflections of reflections) and LEDs that distort the pathway through.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 July 2025
Adverb
-
The tangerine strappy sandal features a slim, flared stiletto heel and asymmetric upper with tubular leather straps that wrap diagonally across the foot.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
1 Aug. 2025
-
Two collateral ligaments run along the outside, while the two cruciate ligaments—including the ACL in front and the posterior cruciate ligament, or PCL, in back—crisscross diagonally to hold things together from the inside of the joint.—
Cindy Kuzma,
SELF,
31 July 2025
Preposition
-
The series earned 10 Emmy nominations across its four-season run on CBS and did win once, when Andy Ackerman took home the Outstanding Video Tape Editing For A Series trophy in 1982.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
4 Aug. 2025
-
These higher costs reduce the profitability of domestic businesses across a diverse array of industries including automobiles and pharmaceuticals.—
Wayne Winegarden,
Forbes.com,
4 Aug. 2025
Adverb
-
The density matched with the magnetic susceptibility on a perfect line, with one type all over here, and the second type over there.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
28 July 2025
-
Some are in position to start, some have already been recruited over and some have already switched schools.—
Antonio Morales,
New York Times,
28 July 2025
Preposition
-
Our current favorite pairs include a few riffs on those flats from The Row—but thanks to the recent creative renaissance around jellies, there are so many more options to discover.—
Jake Henry Smith,
Glamour,
15 July 2025
-
At the 2025 Anime Expo in Los Angeles, the company shared that roughly half of its subscribers — that's over 150 million households, or around 300 million people — are watching anime consistently.—
Allison DeGrushe Published,
EW.com,
14 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Athwart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/athwart. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share