athwart 1 of 2

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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

athwart

2 of 2

preposition

as in across
to the opposite side of athwart the road was farmland as far as the eye could see

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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
An obstructionist Supreme Court, however, stood athwart the New Deal’s path. John Fabian Witt, The New Republic, 26 Aug. 2022 One of the world’s largest container ships was wedged athwart the Suez canal on March 24th, apparently blown off course by high winds. The Economist, 24 Mar. 2021 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 The outgoing Trump administration is standing athwart a massive investment management trend. Michael Taylor, ExpressNews.com, 2 Dec. 2020 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 Indeed, instead of ostentatious acts of helping people, the administration almost preferred being seen standing athwart attempts to provide relief. Alex Pareene, The New Republic, 20 Dec. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for athwart
Adverb
  • Paramount is trying to seal a multibillion-dollar merger with entertainment giant Skydance, a deal that will need approval from the Trump administration to go through.
    Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 19 May 2025
  • When visitors have passed through, Margouleff has been the one to set up the guitars—adjusting the action and pickups and intonation.
    Nick Paumgarten, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
Adverb
  • If your home is very wide and has only a few inlets, open windows located diagonally to each other have the longest possible straight path for air flow, thereby increasing the potential of air circulation across the whole room.
    Aksha Mittapalli, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 May 2025
  • Yamal has now scored pretty much the same goal in three consecutive games — the 17-year-old dribbles diagonally through the opposing defence, positions himself in front of the target and fires a shot into the top corner.
    Laia Cervelló Herrero, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Preposition
  • Filmmakers embedded with the 2023 Thunderbirds team, following them from training in the Nevada desert to shows across the country.
    Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 24 May 2025
  • Shearer posted a video of the graduation ceremony to her Instagram Stories of Stella walking across the stage to receive her certificate of middle school completion.
    Rachel Flynn, People.com, 24 May 2025
Adverb
  • These changes would only go into effect in January 2029, after Trump's term is over, though GOP hardliners are pushing leadership for those to go into effect sooner.
    Riley Beggin, USA Today, 18 May 2025
  • After the main action of the film is over, Sam and his girlfriend board a plane, which is revealed to be Volée Airlines Flight 180 from the first movie.
    Keith Langston, People.com, 17 May 2025
Preposition
  • Regardless of what the answers to questions surrounding AI assistants may be, companies like The Image are advancing conversations around what AI assistance could look like moving forward.
    Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 17 May 2025
  • It’s set in the (fictional) city of Eddington, NM, where the local sheriff, Joaquin Phoenix’s Joe Cross, tools around town responding to minor crises like noise complaints.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 17 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Athwart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/athwart. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

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