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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of athwart
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
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
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The family ran a PVC pipe beneath the structure to tunnel an extension cord through, plugging in a large LED light each night that illuminated the ice from within.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
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Everything was heated through, the chicken was juicy, and the Brussels sprouts weren't dried out.—
April Benshosan,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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Ross pulled his vehicle diagonally in front of Munoz-Guatemala to force him to stop.—
Ryan J. Foley,
Fortune,
9 Jan. 2026
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To apply grout, use the rubber float to spread the grout diagonally across the tile, forcing it into the seams.—
Lee Wallender,
The Spruce,
5 Jan. 2026
Preposition
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The killings came amid a wave of bloody violence tied to drug trafficking and organized crime, which has surged across Ecuador in recent years.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
12 Jan. 2026
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There is a chance for rain and snow, especially across northern and western areas.—
Andrew Kozak,
CBS News,
12 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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The Mean Green's best football season ever wasn't even over before the major figures from that team left, or announced their intentions to bounce ASAP; when the season did end, moments after North Texas defeated San Diego State to win the New Mexico Bowl, is when the great Denton flood began.—
Mac Engel Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Arkansas Online,
11 Jan. 2026
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The tense music and security cam footage seem to suggest this isn’t over, that Cooper could face consequences for hurting the guy.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
11 Jan. 2026
Preposition
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The data demonstrates how work schedules differ around the world, and sometimes drastically.—
Joe O’Connor,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
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And multiple sports bars around the metro said Chiefs’ fans presence at their establishments had diminished before the team was officially out of the post-season.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Athwart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/athwart. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
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