diagonal 1 of 2

adjective

dī-ˈa-gə-nᵊl How to pronounce diagonal (audio)
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Beginning on her left side, the skirt boasted a waist-high, diagonal leg slit with a gauzy underlayer that showcased her peep-toe heels. — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 18 Sep. 2026 Marin’s diagonal shot dips at the last second and spears into the top corner of the net. — Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Noun
Larger values for c²—if they’re chosen carefully—enable more whole-number diagonals and hence more unit-distance pairs. — ArsTechnica, 1 June 2026 The painting, surrounded by scaffolding while the church undergoes repairs, is full of thrusting diagonals and shadowy figures, a meditation on both extreme suffering and pointed indifference to it. — Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 16 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for diagonal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diagonal
  1. oblique
  2. slope
  3. sloping
  4. inclination
  5. sloped
  6. incline
Adjective
  • At best, the invitation to become a white-leader draws an oblique link between white paint and the discourse of racial discrimination.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Reaves missed those games — and his shot at his first All-NBA and All-Star selections — because of right groin soreness in November, a left calf strain in December and January, and a left oblique strain in April.
    — Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of oblique
Noun
  • From shredding the slopes in the winter to floating on the water in the summer, the unofficial capital of the Sierra Nevada sees outdoorsy travelers constantly flocking to its campsites and cabins.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The land on which Thwaites sits slopes downward, meaning as the glacier melts, more ice is exposed to warm ocean water.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of slope
Adjective
  • Gates open to a sloping, 700-foot-long driveway that passes by whimsical sculptures before arriving at a spacious cobblestone motor court.
    — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 3 Aug. 2026
  • There was a casual feel in Memorial Auditorium in the hour before game time, as children kicked a ball around on the auditorium’s sloping floor.
    — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of sloping
Noun
  • At Roberto Cavalli, makeup artist Yadim had the same inclination for highly pigmented metallic shades, a choice that punctuated key looks also at Jil Sander.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
  • OpenAI’s closest rival, Anthropic, has shown no inclination to delay its own IPO, which is expected sometime before year’s end.
    — Alyson Shontell, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of inclination
Adjective
  • Following their 1967 nuptials, Elvis and Priscilla spent their honeymoon in Palm Springs at William Krisel’s House of Tomorrow, a 4,695-square-foot modernist abode sectioned off into four circular spaces under a long, sloped roof.
    — Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Common areas feature self-operating lifts or sloped entryways.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 July 2026
Definition of sloped
Noun
  • Police did not disclose the name of the roller coaster, but witnesses described seeing the man fall from Goliath, and aerial footage reviewed by CNN showed Goliath riders stopped at a steep incline before being evacuated down a high stairway.
    — Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Lemmo With this kind of kit, the Lemmo 3 should be up to the task of tackling steep inclines and all manner of rough terrain.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of incline

Phrases Containing diagonal

Browse Nearby Words

diagnostics
diagonal
diagonally
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Cite this Entry

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

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