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
The blue diagonal stripes visible in the satellite image are of particular interest. Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 14 Jan. 2026 The entrance to the Francisco station is at the junction of the north-south Francisco and the northwest-southeast diagonal Manor avenues. Adam Harrington, CBS News, 14 Jan. 2026
Noun
Slice tenderloins crosswise on the diagonal. Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 18 Aug. 2025 France is often associated with having an 'empty' middle, a strip of vast land that traverses the country diagonally (the 'diagonale du vide', the empty diagonal), which is less populated than its mountains or coastlines and has fewer infrastructure and services. Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for diagonal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diagonal
Adjective
  • During the playoffs, Darnold played through an oblique injury that many thought would limit his production.
    Antwan Staley, Hartford Courant, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Outfielder Kyle Stowers emerged as an All-Star and was trending toward receiving down-ballot MVP votes before his season ended with a left oblique strain in mid-August.
    Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The ski slope was abandoned at some point after the 1950s, but Neutaconkanut continues to be a popular yet highly dangerous destination for sledding.
    Antonia Noori Farzan, The Providence Journal, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Although the designer has never been on skis, that didn’t stop him from basing his fall collection on fashions near the slopes.
    Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Their test setup involved a ramp containing sand to simulate sloping dunes on Mars.
    Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • This is because when people lose weight, the body’s natural inclination is to return to its previous weight – a phenomenon called metabolic adaptation.
    Amy J. Sheer, The Conversation, 5 Feb. 2026
  • The 11 satellites on board are flying to a mid-inclination orbit.
    Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The world outside Silo residents have little idea what's outside, because their video feed shows nothing but scrub, dead trees, and the corpses of deceased cleaners — everything else is obscured by the incline strategically placed around the entrance to the bunker.
    Richard Edwards, Space.com, 7 Feb. 2026
  • For incline walking, Higgins recommended starting with three to five days a week, 20 to 30 minutes each, at mostly moderate intensity.
    Stephanie Anderson Witmer, Health, 6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • The sloped, landscaped half-acre lot offers a terrace and a two-car garage.
    The Week US, TheWeek, 30 Jan. 2026
  • This can prevent sloped roofs from shedding snow properly and cause snow to accumulate on flat or low-slope roofs, FEMA said.
    Bailey Allen, The Providence Journal, 28 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Diagonal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diagonal. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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