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 vehicle is then seen being turned perpendicular and appearing to block the roadway.
—
Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 9 Jan. 2026
The shower owes its brief peak to the near-perpendicular angle at which Earth smashes through the thin debris trail left by asteroid 2003 EH1.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 3 Jan. 2026
On the top, a lattice of faint lines ran parallel and perpendicular to the outer face.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Rising from each track was a metal tower, and connecting those towers was another perpendicular track of sorts, with a machine sliding across its rails from side to side.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 8 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perpendicular
Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 9 Jan. 2026
The shower owes its brief peak to the near-perpendicular angle at which Earth smashes through the thin debris trail left by asteroid 2003 EH1.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 3 Jan. 2026
On the top, a lattice of faint lines ran parallel and perpendicular to the outer face.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Rising from each track was a metal tower, and connecting those towers was another perpendicular track of sorts, with a machine sliding across its rails from side to side.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 8 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perpendicular
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perpendicular
Adjective
-
The company presented the AIR ONE, an all-electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Space-savers will include pull-out vertical pantries that slide into narrow spaces, toe-kick drawers that utilize the area beneath your cabinets and corner carousel units that make those awkward spaces accessible.—
Lew Sichelman,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
It’s been a strenuous 18-year fall from grace since Susan Sarandon handed the magnificent disaster his Golden Globe, his longtime buddy Bruce Springsteen mugging with glee as a standing ovation crowd cheered him on.—
Steve Garbarino,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Under the cooler, standing water covered the floor.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
For total protection, erect metal or polypropylene deer fencing around the plant to prevent them from entering.—
Lee Wallender,
The Spruce,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Thanks for that last shot of a fully erect Tommy.—
William Earl,
Variety,
28 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Perpendicular.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perpendicular. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
