diagonal 1 of 2

as in oblique
running in a slanting direction the diagonal design ran up the wall all the way from the lower left to the upper right-hand corner

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diagonal

2 of 2

noun

as in slope
the degree to which something rises up from a position level with the horizon the ramp was set at a low diagonal to make it easier for physically challenged patrons

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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 diagonal
Adjective
His puzzles have interesting geometry; today’s has diagonal symmetry, which allows for an unusual arrangement of long and short entries. Caitlin Lovinger, New York Times, 17 May 2025 Photos of the aftermath of the accident, meanwhile, show the roof of the bus separated from the rest of the vehicle, which rests at a diagonal on the side of a hill, per the AP. Bailey Richards, People.com, 11 May 2025
Noun
Some run in the straight lines followed by a rook, some follow the diagonals of a bishop, and others hold off opponents like a pawn. Issy Ronald, CNN, 9 Feb. 2025 But these bold diagonals lack the fundamental humanity of those which are accidentally off-kilter. Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for diagonal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diagonal
Adjective
  • Chisholm had missed more than a month with an oblique strain.
    Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 7 June 2025
  • The Yankees’ third baseman said that he’s been playing at 70% since returning from an oblique strain on Tuesday.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 7 June 2025
Noun
  • Across the Cotswolds, darling villages like Painswick and Tetbury sit among green slopes, each one a jumble of honeystone cottages housing dreamy inns, shops selling antiques or books, and award-winning restaurants like Lygon Arms and the Woolpack Inn, Slad.
    Danielle Hallock, AFAR Media, 5 June 2025
  • But this week was an undeniable success, those slopes causing damage, those greens forcing balls to fly from end to end.
    Brody Miller, New York Times, 1 June 2025
Noun
  • In conversations about smart buildings or workplace technology, there’s often an inclination to jump to the latest tools or features.
    Swapna Sathyan, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
  • This is because a planet's altitude in the sky is dependent in part on the inclination of the ecliptic relative to the horizon, which shifts throughout the year due to Earth's wobbling orbit.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 31 May 2025
Noun
  • Walk on an incline (such as by walking up hills or increasing the incline on a treadmill).4 Pump your arms.
    Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 10 June 2025
  • Steinwald has worked with trainers to build stamina and endurance for inclines and elevation.
    Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 4 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Diagonal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diagonal. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.

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