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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
  • After it's dried, come back through with a warm, damp cloth to blot the toothpaste away.
    Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2025
  • But most of those low-blue-light modes still let a considerable amount of blue light through, potentially keeping you up at night.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 5 Sep. 2025
Adverb
  • Gilbert and her volunteer group had already planted dozens of trees in just a couple of hours, moving diagonally across a open, grassy field surrounded by ponderosa pines.
    John Leos, AZCentral.com, 29 Aug. 2025
  • When blooms start to fade, use clean pruning shears to cut the stem diagonally back to a leaf or another stem.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 20 Aug. 2025
Preposition
  • Watch Thelma on Hulu Kinds of Kindness Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, this 2024 dark dramedy anthology is told across three loosely interwoven chapters, each exploring characters who take extraordinary measures to demonstrate their love to someone else.
    Hannah Kerns, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Fall weather isn't stopping the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) as its crews are set to begin a number of construction work across the state.
    Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Adverb
  • That brief three-month double act between an executive chairman and a CEO is now over.
    Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Before the first half was over, Hollywood Brown dropped a pass and Mahomes twice overthrew Tyquan Thornton before finally connecting on a 35-yarder that set up the last-play field goal.
    Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 6 Sep. 2025
Preposition
  • Overmont Oversized Double Camping Chair This Overmont Double Chair is built for snuggling up around the campfire, but it can be used to spread out while solo.
    Francesca Krempa, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The ensemble featured a visible black underwire and corset boning at the bust and torso, while the sheer black fabric created an illusion of draping around her bust and the rest of her body.
    Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Athwart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/athwart. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!