southwestern

adjective

south·​west·​ern sau̇(th)-ˈwe-stərn How to pronounce southwestern (audio)
1
: lying toward or coming from the southwest
2
often Southwestern : of, relating to, or characteristic of a region conventionally designated Southwest
southwesternmost
sau̇(th)-ˈwe-stərn-ˌmōst How to pronounce southwestern (audio)
adjective

Examples of southwestern in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Japan considers China's rapidly growing military activities in and around Japan, including in the Pacific Ocean, as a threat and has fortified its southwestern region with longer-range missiles and interceptors in recent years. — Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026 In the southwestern town of Limoges, the city hall’s 19th-century bell tower crumbled under a mass of flames. — Colette Davidson, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Oct. 2026 Hurricane Trudy moved toward southwestern and west-central areas of Mexico's Pacific coast and could keep growing through Saturday, forecasters said. — ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026 According to Goble the potential for beneficial snowfall is generally stronger in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado. — Callie Zanandrie, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for southwestern

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English sūth-westerne, from sūth south + westerne western

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of southwestern was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing southwestern

Rhymes for southwestern

See All Rhymes for southwestern

Browse Nearby Words

southwesterly
southwestern
southwestern corn borer
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Southwestern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/southwestern. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

southwestern

adjective
south·​west·​ern sau̇(th)-ˈwes-tərn How to pronounce southwestern (audio)
1
: lying toward or coming from the southwest
2
often capitalized : of, relating to, or characteristic of the Southwest
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