athwart 1 of 2

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

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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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for athwart
Adverb
  • Last month, after Israel and Lebanon came to a 10-day ceasefire, there was a less-than-24-hour window where Iran said the strait was open, only to reverse the decision and attack vessels passing through.
    Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 6 May 2026
  • Bake galette, rotating once, until crust is golden brown and cooked through, 55–65 minutes.
    Andy Baraghani, Bon Appetit Magazine, 6 May 2026
Adverb
  • However, due to manufacturing deadlines, each expansion team played its first season in a more generic jersey with the city name stitched diagonally across the front of the sweater, paying homage to the designs worn by the league’s original six teams in 2024.
    Max Bultman, New York Times, 6 May 2026
  • The Avs’ leading scorer fired at the Minnesota goal, caught his own rebound, stopped, turned left, and slid the puck diagonally to a hard-charging Artturi Lehkonen.
    Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 4 May 2026
Preposition
  • Leaders across the globe called on Iran Monday evening to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East after the country launched attacks on the United Arab Emirates, putting the ceasefire agreement to its most challenging test yet.
    Christopher Cann, USA Today, 5 May 2026
  • The Met Gala steps may be where the most camera bulbs flash, but across the street plenty of fans are getting their cellphone pics in.
    Dalila Muata, NBC news, 5 May 2026
Adverb
  • This game should have been over.
    Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 May 2026
  • The grace window is over and fines become effective on May 18, said Elmo Lugo, a school district spokesman.
    David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 1 May 2026
Preposition
  • Set one clear boundary around your time today and follow it so your work stays consistent and controlled.
    Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Our impressively multicultural team of street racers now freelance in the shadowy and complex world of covert ops, jetting around the world to take down an increasingly unhinged array of nihilist supervillains.
    Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Athwart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/athwart. Accessed 7 May. 2026.

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