as in slope
the degree to which something rises up from a position level with the horizon
the path goes up at a pretty steep gradient before leveling off
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Recent Examples of gradient
Earlier in the week, those systems created a pressure gradient that increased wind speeds.
—
Troy Bridges, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
The very act of extracting energy from those gradients and feeding off of it, in some variety, is what fuels all biological processes at their core.
—Big Think, 9 Apr. 2026
Human eyes are remarkably good at sensing color gradients and brightness changes.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 9 Apr. 2026
The squoval nail shape further emphasizes the diffused look of the gradient design.
—Emily Kelleher, InStyle, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gradient
Troy Bridges, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
The very act of extracting energy from those gradients and feeding off of it, in some variety, is what fuels all biological processes at their core.
—Big Think, 9 Apr. 2026
Human eyes are remarkably good at sensing color gradients and brightness changes.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 9 Apr. 2026
The squoval nail shape further emphasizes the diffused look of the gradient design.
—Emily Kelleher, InStyle, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gradient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gradient
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
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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
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
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Gradient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gradient. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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