as in vertical
rising straight up
river rafters staring awestruck at the canyon's nearly perpendicular cliffs
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Recent Examples of perpendicular
The Princess and Empress pursuing opposite ends of the same story book, their paths perpendicular on Sunset Boulevard.
—
Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2025
While most rifle bores and barrel crowns are perfectly perpendicular, an older or damaged rifle may have some deviation, which would negatively impact the accuracy of the boresight.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2025
In 2001, a journalist launched the Political Compass, a tool designed to move beyond such simplifications by adding a social scale perpendicular to the economic one, creating ideological quadrants that have since become a staple of political-science classes.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 2 May 2025
Dragonflies hold their wings perpendicular to their bodies, while a damselfly’s wings point straight back, parallel to its body.
—Carl R. Gold, Baltimore Sun, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for perpendicular
Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2025
While most rifle bores and barrel crowns are perfectly perpendicular, an older or damaged rifle may have some deviation, which would negatively impact the accuracy of the boresight.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2025
In 2001, a journalist launched the Political Compass, a tool designed to move beyond such simplifications by adding a social scale perpendicular to the economic one, creating ideological quadrants that have since become a staple of political-science classes.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 2 May 2025
Dragonflies hold their wings perpendicular to their bodies, while a damselfly’s wings point straight back, parallel to its body.
—Carl R. Gold, Baltimore Sun, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for perpendicular
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perpendicular
Adjective
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Amazon says its facility has added 130 jobs on the Space Coast since 2024, and ULA has added to the economic impact as well by building out at second vertical integration facility at SLC 41.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 July 2025
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If one looks straight downward from Scorpius one encounters the teapot shape of stars that is Sagittarius; in mid southern latitudes the teapot shape is almost vertical.—
Jesse Emspak,
Space.com,
24 July 2025
Adjective
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Audiences responded by giving Brown a standing ovation that lasted nearly five minutes.—
Dave Quinn,
People.com,
25 July 2025
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Understudy Bella Brown reportedly stepped in for Zegler for Act 2 and received a standing ovation that lasted nearly five minutes.—
Lexy Perez,
HollywoodReporter,
25 July 2025
Adjective
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The name of Fort Benning, for example, was suggested by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, an organization that sought to rewrite history textbooks and erect monuments that honored the Confederacy and downplayed slavery's centrality to the Civil War.—
Davis Winkie,
USA Today,
19 July 2025
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Construction crews pour concrete and erect steel faster every year, yet one stubborn line item keeps projects over budget: paperwork.—
Shuangling Yin,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Perpendicular.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perpendicular. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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