southwesterly

adverb or adjective

south·​west·​er·​ly sau̇(th)-ˈwe-stər-lē How to pronounce southwesterly (audio)
1
: from the southwest
2
: toward the southwest

Examples of southwesterly 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.
Later in the week, a low-pressure system should stall to our north, and winds will shift to southwesterly, bringing in hotter temps. — Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 27 Apr. 2026 Tuesday, increasing southwesterly winds to 30 to 40 mph will help warm the area up above freezing. — Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 15 Dec. 2025 Overnight lows Monday into Tuesday will be much milder in the mid to upper 50s with a southwesterly breeze. — Steven Sosna, CBS News, 4 May 2026 As southwesterly winds persist into Wednesday, Houston afternoon temps should land in the lower 80s. — Newsroom Meteorologist, Houston Chronicle, 17 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for southwesterly

Word History

Etymology

southwest entry 2 + -erly (as in westerly)

First Known Use

1703, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of southwesterly was in 1703

Rhymes for southwesterly

See All Rhymes for southwesterly

Browse Nearby Words

southwester
southwesterly
southwestern
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Southwesterly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/southwesterly. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

southwesterly

adverb or adjective
south·​west·​er·​ly sau̇(th)-ˈwes-tər-lē How to pronounce southwesterly (audio)
1
: from the southwest
2
: toward the southwest

More from Merriam-Webster on southwesterly

Nglish: Translation of southwesterly for Spanish Speakers

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