athwart 1 of 2

adverb

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

athwart

2 of 2

preposition

ə-ˈthwȯrt How to pronounce athwart (audio)
as in across
to the opposite side of athwart the road was farmland as far as the eye could see

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
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 An obstructionist Supreme Court, however, stood athwart the New Deal’s path. — John Fabian Witt, The New Republic, 26 Aug. 2022 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
  1. through
  2. diagonally
  3. across
  4. over
  5. around
Adverb
  • Thorough cooking kills the virus, so cook eggs and meat all the way through and skip raw milk.
    — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026
  • The manicure lets the natural tones of your nail peek through, and has been spotted on the likes of Zoë Kravitz (painted by celebrity manicurist Jin Soon Choi) and Kylie Jenner (created by nail artist Zola Ganzorigt).
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 2 July 2026
Definition of through
Adverb
  • The route then heads north into France, travels the coast up to Bordeaux, and then cuts diagonally across the country through Bergerac, Vichy, Nevers, and up to Le Markstein.
    — Jason Cohen, PC Magazine, 1 July 2026
  • The light passed through it and slashed diagonally across the hallway.
    — Hannah Gold, New Yorker, 17 June 2026
Definition of diagonally
Preposition
  • Dozens of people lined up outside several Lidl stores across the Paris region on Thursday, all hoping to get their hands on an air conditioning unit.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
  • Trace Stevenson, president of Autonomous Systems at AeroVironment, said operational feedback continues to shape software updates across the Titan family.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 7 July 2026
Definition of across
Adverb
  • About 93 million people registered to vote in 2023, though just over a quarter ultimately cast ballots for the presidency.
    — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 6 July 2026
  • By his late thirties, though, Melville’s career as a fiction writer was essentially over.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
Definition of over
Preposition
  • The majority of these strikes happen during the summer, causing around 20 fatalities each year, according to the NWS.
    — STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 July 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 around

Browse Nearby Words

a throw
athwart
atilt
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Athwart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/athwart. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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