diagonal 1 of 2

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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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.

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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
In the second half, Pereyra hit a long diagonal to Chancalay, who gently brought it down with a first touch and dished it for Kelvin Yeboah to tap in. Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 19 Apr. 2026 First, a mathematical operation known as the Schur pinching channel reorganizes the system into a simpler, diagonal form—something closer to classical data that is easier to handle. Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 19 Apr. 2026
Noun
Slice tenderloins crosswise on the diagonal. Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 18 Aug. 2025 France is often associated with having an 'empty' middle, a strip of vast land that traverses the country diagonally (the 'diagonale du vide', the empty diagonal), which is less populated than its mountains or coastlines and has fewer infrastructure and services. Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for diagonal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diagonal
Adjective
  • Just three weeks after his oblique injury, Reaves was questionable for Games 3 and 4.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Little did the Lakers know that Dončić (hamstring) and Reaves (oblique) would go down heading into the playoffs, but their backcourt backups, Smart and Kennard, had everything to do with their ability to jump out to a 3-0 series lead against Houston (3-1 after Sunday night’s loss).
    Sam Amick, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Strongest winds will occur near desert slopes, and through passes, where there could locally be gusts up to 60 mph.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 24 Apr. 2026
  • This can be done by directing water into soil or gravel, and creating a slight slope or grade away from your home flat surfaces.
    Nishaa Sharma, The Spruce, 24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • As part of his new collection for the brand, Arnold unveiled a new shape—a slightly sloping, almost smile-like pleat that’s simultaneously nonchalant and fully sophisticated.
    Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Their test setup involved a ramp containing sand to simulate sloping dunes on Mars.
    Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The inclination is not to pay, according to Alisha Rayner, the city’s director of operations and communications.
    Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2026
  • The 11 satellites on board are flying to a mid-inclination orbit.
    Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Others, though, like the Innsdale trail, offer a more breezy walk with some incline, showing off the sparkling blue Hollywood Reservoir on a sunny day (most days in Los Angeles).
    Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
  • The portable treadmill is designed to fit easily into your space, turning any room into a walking track with adjustable incline, remote control, and a display for tracking distance and calories.
    Tory Johnson, ABC News, 11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • His sloped shoulders suggested bodily power that was sleepy and sly; his large head and dark, badly cut hair amplified the weight and solidity of him, but his lips were sensitive and a little slack, as if yearning for something he’d been long deprived of.
    Mary Gaitskill, New Yorker, 22 Feb. 2026
  • The sloped, landscaped half-acre lot offers a terrace and a two-car garage.
    The Week US, TheWeek, 30 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Diagonal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diagonal. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

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