diagonal 1 of 2

adjective

dī-ˈa-gə-nᵊl How to pronounce diagonal (audio)
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Then, branching off from the horizontal line, as many diagonal lines as are necessary for the articles, modifiers, and direct and indirect objects. — Robert Klose, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Oct. 2026 The parallel groupings can be vertical, diagonal, horizontal, or a combination. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 19 Sep. 2026
Noun
Larger values for c²—if they’re chosen carefully—enable more whole-number diagonals and hence more unit-distance pairs. — ArsTechnica, 1 June 2026 The painting, surrounded by scaffolding while the church undergoes repairs, is full of thrusting diagonals and shadowy figures, a meditation on both extreme suffering and pointed indifference to it. — Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 16 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for diagonal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diagonal
  1. oblique
  2. slope
  3. sloping
  4. inclination
  5. sloped
  6. incline
Adjective
  • Rookie Cameron Carr is out and day-to-day because of a right oblique strain.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The Lakers were without new guard Collin Sexton (calf) and first-round pick Cameron Carr (oblique), and swingman Jake LaRavia left the court limping in the fourth quarter.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of oblique
Noun
  • Highlights include the verdant jungle at Cap Cana, the lush volcanic slopes above Saint-Pierre in Martinique, and the coral gardens off Kralendijk in Bonaire.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Caltrans has secured millions in emergency funding to fix a large crack that has developed in the slope below Pacific Coast Highway near Laguna Beach.
    — Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of slope
Adjective
  • Gates open to a sloping, 700-foot-long driveway that passes by whimsical sculptures before arriving at a spacious cobblestone motor court.
    — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 3 Aug. 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 sloping
Noun
  • At Roberto Cavalli, makeup artist Yadim had the same inclination for highly pigmented metallic shades, a choice that punctuated key looks also at Jil Sander.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
  • OpenAI’s closest rival, Anthropic, has shown no inclination to delay its own IPO, which is expected sometime before year’s end.
    — Alyson Shontell, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of inclination
Adjective
  • Following their 1967 nuptials, Elvis and Priscilla spent their honeymoon in Palm Springs at William Krisel’s House of Tomorrow, a 4,695-square-foot modernist abode sectioned off into four circular spaces under a long, sloped roof.
    — Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Common areas feature self-operating lifts or sloped entryways.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 July 2026
Definition of sloped
Noun
  • The hiking area is extremely dangerous and known for steep inclines, loose gravel and falling rocks, according to the Italian Alpine Rescue unit, which told CNN that more than 80 people died in the Dolomites in 2026 so far.
    — Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Urevo Another advantage the unit has over an under-desk walking mat is the incline.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of incline

Phrases Containing diagonal

Browse Nearby Words

diagnostics
diagonal
diagonally
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Cite this Entry

“Diagonal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diagonal. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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