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
  • Moreover, the black cloud that appears in the image is clearly in the foreground of all of them, blocking all of the background light in the center, but only a portion of the light at the outskirts, allowing some of the light, albeit faintly, to stream through.
    Big Think, Big Think, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Beebe said the developer was resolved to see the project through, but cautioned that the group was still in a preliminary phase and was working through leasing and financing for the complex.
    Nathan Pilling March 25, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2026
Adverb
  • Rose Byrne stunned in a strapless black mermaid Dior gown that featured delicate embroidered floral appliqués with shimmering beadwork running diagonally across the bodice and down the skirt, which flowed into a train.
    Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 15 Mar. 2026
  • Grab your telescope and look out for a line of faint stars extending diagonally from Gienag above Algorab, which will lead you directly to the patch of sky containing M104!
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 14 Mar. 2026
Preposition
  • Airport security camera video shows a convoy of emergency vehicles traveling across the tarmac with their lights flashing in the moments before the plane lands, according to a recording of the video shared online.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Mar. 2026
  • Left unaddressed, these issues will ripple across the country with consequences of global significance.
    Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
Adverb
  • Radiation wasn’t bad compared with Tom’s waffle iron—until the last stretch, when my nipple became charred and blistered, like an over-roasted marshmallow.
    Amanda Peet, New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2026
  • And now, nobody wants to be a leader over there anymore.
    CBS News, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
Preposition
  • Eight strikeouts shy of 250 for her career entering the game, Langford hit that mark against the lead-off batter in the top of the sixth, and her team gathered around its standout hurler on the mound to celebrate.
    Mike Waters, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Years before the pandemic, the Fish brothers were driving around Fort Lauderdale looking for a gem.
    Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Athwart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/athwart. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.

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