athwart 1 of 2

Definition of athwartnext
1
as in through
from one side to the other of an intervening space after it enters the Gulf of Mexico, the hurricane is predicted to advance athwart to the Texas coastline

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Relevance
2
as in diagonally
in a line or direction running from corner to corner we hung the twisted strips of crepe paper athwart to the floor and ceiling so that they formed giant crosses on all four walls

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

athwart

2 of 2

preposition

as in across
to the opposite side of athwart the road was farmland as far as the eye could see

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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 athwart
Preposition
An obstructionist Supreme Court, however, stood athwart the New Deal’s path. John Fabian Witt, The New Republic, 26 Aug. 2022 One of the world’s largest container ships was wedged athwart the Suez Canal on March 23rd, blown off course by high winds. The Economist, 27 Mar. 2021 The outgoing Trump administration is standing athwart a massive investment management trend. Michael Taylor, ExpressNews.com, 2 Dec. 2020 Her mother, feeling abandoned by her constantly traveling husband, had affairs; her father’s heartfelt liberalism would run athwart of the postwar Red Scare. Elsa Dixler, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Apr. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for athwart
Adverb
  • While the seven-round draft feels exhaustive each year, the truth is good prospects, even Hall of Fame caliber ones, can slip through.
    Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Some of them pass through; others remain to nest in Illinois in summer.
    Sheryl DeVore, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
Adverb
  • With 1 minute and 13 seconds left in the first period Wednesday, the TV broadcast came back from a commercial to show Crosby lying diagonally on the ice, appearing to be in a great deal of pain.
    Tom Dougherty, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Section each side into two smaller sections, parting the hair diagonally.
    Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 17 Apr. 2026
Preposition
  • Moscow has stepped up its ballistic-missile attacks across the country, triggering deaths and mayhem.
    Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Lilith Fair featured a whopping 313 artists across 135 shows.
    Michael Schneider, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
Adverb
  • This game should have been over.
    Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 May 2026
  • The grace window is over and fines become effective on May 18, said Elmo Lugo, a school district spokesman.
    David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 1 May 2026
Preposition
  • Set one clear boundary around your time today and follow it so your work stays consistent and controlled.
    Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Our impressively multicultural team of street racers now freelance in the shadowy and complex world of covert ops, jetting around the world to take down an increasingly unhinged array of nihilist supervillains.
    Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Athwart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/athwart. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

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