as in vertical
rising straight up
river rafters staring awestruck at the canyon's nearly perpendicular cliffs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 perpendicular
The perpendicular energy from Tuesday's earthquake went toward Hawaii.
—
Michal Ruprecht, NPR, 30 July 2025
But with the boat between 50 and 100 yards from the craggy shore near Rubicon Point, its engine failed, causing the vessel to turn broadside — perpendicular — to the oncoming waves, the NTSB said.
—Ethan Wolin
updated July 23, Sacbee.com, 23 July 2025
In April, the brand opened a 1,100-square-foot flagship on Rue François 1er, a perpendicular to luxury shopping epicenter Avenue Montaigne.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 15 July 2025
The holes closest to the highway on the west side are generally perpendicular to it.
—Noah Trister, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for perpendicular
Michal Ruprecht, NPR, 30 July 2025
But with the boat between 50 and 100 yards from the craggy shore near Rubicon Point, its engine failed, causing the vessel to turn broadside — perpendicular — to the oncoming waves, the NTSB said.
—Ethan Wolin
updated July 23, Sacbee.com, 23 July 2025
In April, the brand opened a 1,100-square-foot flagship on Rue François 1er, a perpendicular to luxury shopping epicenter Avenue Montaigne.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 15 July 2025
The holes closest to the highway on the west side are generally perpendicular to it.
—Noah Trister, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for perpendicular
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perpendicular
Adjective
-
Other laser products by Tonello include the Laser Lab, a smaller machine for stores and laboratories; the Laser TM, a machine that allows horizontal and vertical processing; and the Laser Dual, which allows simultaneous work on both the legs of a mannequin.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
25 Sep. 2025
-
According to Over Easy Solar, vertical solar is not simply an innovation, but also unlocks the potential of rooftops that were considered less suitable for the technology.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Put on your white boots and let’s wade through this inspection with quite a bit of standing water.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
26 Sep. 2025
-
The standing ovation represented validation.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Many use social media to call for an end to the violence, then erect memorials at the site of the shooting.—
David Clarey,
jsonline.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
On the fateful day that inbound Soviet bombers filled the skies above America with godless communism, the horizontal Bomarc missiles would literally become erect, and fire vertically.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Perpendicular.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perpendicular. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share