diagonal 1 of 2

Definition of diagonalnext
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 wheelchairs.

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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
Even a diagonal arrangement of your furniture and planters can make a patio feel more expansive. Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 22 Apr. 2026 Its lens also offers the widest coverage among single-lens action cams, covering a staggering 159° diagonal viewing angle, and, of course, supports narrower views for vlogging with reduced distortion. Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
On your mental map of Wisconsin, draw a diagonal from the southwestern corner of the state through Green Bay. Jim Higgins, jsonline.com, 17 Oct. 2025 Slice tenderloins crosswise on the diagonal. Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 18 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for diagonal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diagonal
Adjective
  • Reaves battled a midseason left calf strain, and missed the end of the regular season and most of the first round of the playoffs with a left oblique strain.
    Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 18 May 2026
  • Brice Matthews made the majority of his minor-league starts at second, but has become the team’s everyday center fielder while Jake Meyers recovers from an oblique injury.
    Chandler Rome, New York Times, 17 May 2026
Noun
  • All sorts of variables are logged if available — altitude, lie, slope.
    Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 15 May 2026
  • The comfortable seating area in the living room includes couches and armchairs set in front of the TV and fireplace for relaxing after a day on the slopes, and a dining table provides a nice spot to relax and eat.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 May 2026
Adjective
  • Watch for soft spots on floors, uneven or sloping flooring, cracks in walls and warped materials.
    Ryan Brennan May 8, Kansas City Star, 8 May 2026
  • As part of his new collection for the brand, Arnold unveiled a new shape—a slightly sloping, almost smile-like pleat that’s simultaneously nonchalant and fully sophisticated.
    Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, 57, or Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, 45, are both often mentioned as possible firm hands who could steer the party, though neither has shown much inclination to enter the fray this time round.
    Alexander Smith, NBC news, 14 May 2026
  • My inclination would be to say probably not.
    Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026
Noun
  • Be prepared for a few steep inclines (and, unfortunately, background traffic noise from a nearby road).
    Robert Annis, Midwest Living, 16 May 2026
  • As Meernik explained, participants began by walking on a treadmill that gradually increased in incline and speed, and kept going until continuing became unsafe or too hard.
    Sarah Garone, Health, 13 May 2026
Adjective
  • His sloped shoulders suggested bodily power that was sleepy and sly; his large head and dark, badly cut hair amplified the weight and solidity of him, but his lips were sensitive and a little slack, as if yearning for something he’d been long deprived of.
    Mary Gaitskill, New Yorker, 22 Feb. 2026
  • The sloped, landscaped half-acre lot offers a terrace and a two-car garage.
    The Week US, TheWeek, 30 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Diagonal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diagonal. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

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