as in slope
the degree to which something rises up from a position level with the horizon
the path goes up at a pretty steep gradient before leveling off
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Recent Examples of gradient
The Reality of the ‘Active’ Aesthetic This NYFW appearance follows the success of the O3 Air Winter Edition, which used bold gradients to mimic the textures of a frozen landscape.
—
Footwear News, 18 Mar. 2026
Like sunlit waves, the luminous surface of the cookware seems to ripple with depth and dimension, thanks to a color gradient and a classic gold knob.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 16 Mar. 2026
Weak offshore gradients that bring warm desert air to the coast add to the heat, said Robbie Monroe, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Featuring a cat-eye silhouette, gold hardware, and a dark tortoise gradient, the Dupont sunglasses are a timeless pick that elevates any outfit while protecting your eyes.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gradient
Footwear News, 18 Mar. 2026
Like sunlit waves, the luminous surface of the cookware seems to ripple with depth and dimension, thanks to a color gradient and a classic gold knob.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 16 Mar. 2026
Weak offshore gradients that bring warm desert air to the coast add to the heat, said Robbie Monroe, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Featuring a cat-eye silhouette, gold hardware, and a dark tortoise gradient, the Dupont sunglasses are a timeless pick that elevates any outfit while protecting your eyes.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gradient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gradient
Noun
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Thirteen of the group were hit by an avalanche that swept down a slope on Perry’s Peak, northwest of Frog Lake.—
Ethan Baron,
Mercury News,
4 Apr. 2026
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Fog rolls in off the sea, rain clouds form against the steep volcanic slopes and squalls appear without warning.—
NPR,
NPR,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The 11 satellites on board are flying to a mid-inclination orbit.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
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The natural inclination, then, might be to try to ridicule the conspiracy believer into feeling enough shame to abandon their belief, but this often only drives them toward it.—
Mike Rothschild,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Gontang notes that walking on an incline can make a substantial difference because walking uphill requires more muscle activation and greater energy expenditure than walking on a flat surface.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
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Pitchers throw every day in season between competition days, bullpens, flat ground sessions and box drills off of an incline from 35 feet out.—
Shawn McFarland,
Dallas Morning News,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gradient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gradient. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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