diagonal 1 of 2

Definition of diagonalnext
as in oblique
running in a slanting direction The diagonal design ran up the wall all the way from the lower left to the upper right-hand corner.

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diagonal

2 of 2

noun

as in slope
the degree to which something rises up from a position level with the horizon The ramp was set at a low diagonal to make it easier for wheelchairs.

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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 diagonal
Adjective
Jupiter will shine brightly about 20 degrees to the lower right of the moon, while Venus and Mercury form a diagonal line beyond. Anthony Wood, Space.com, 20 May 2026 Drain sugar snap peas and cut in half on a diagonal. Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 May 2026
Noun
That approach inevitably leaves large gaps on the flanks, which the visitors looked to exploit with long diagonals. Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025 On your mental map of Wisconsin, draw a diagonal from the southwestern corner of the state through Green Bay. Jim Higgins, jsonline.com, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for diagonal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diagonal
Adjective
  • Right fielder Kerry Carpenter (shoulder) returned as a DH on Sunday, and second baseman Gleyber Torres (oblique) should not be far behind, potentially sparking the offense.
    Levi Weaver, New York Times, 1 June 2026
  • Suárez, who missed 25 games with a mild left oblique strain, homered off Dylan Dodd in the seventh, his fourth homer of the season.
    CBS News, CBS News, 1 June 2026
Noun
  • Just hundreds of sheep clinging to the grassy slopes.
    Lori Rackl, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026
  • Park rangers and mountain guides install and maintain snow pickets — which are used to help build anchors for extra protection on areas like steep slopes — between the high camp and Denali Pass, the park has said.
    Becky Bohrer, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026
Adjective
  • Watch for soft spots on floors, uneven or sloping flooring, cracks in walls and warped materials.
    Ryan Brennan May 8, Kansas City Star, 8 May 2026
  • As part of his new collection for the brand, Arnold unveiled a new shape—a slightly sloping, almost smile-like pleat that’s simultaneously nonchalant and fully sophisticated.
    Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Born to a humble family in the twilight years of the shogunate, Higuchi Natsuko (as she was born) was the fourth child and second daughter of a man with scholarly inclinations, who as a farmer had come to the capital to seek both fortune and rank.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 May 2026
  • As organizations grow, leaders have an inclination to create more bureaucracy and more complexity.
    Bob Rhatigan, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Noun
  • The Iron Shark roller coaster at Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier came to a stop midride, leaving the riders stuck on the incline for several hours.
    Francie Ebert, NBC news, 29 May 2026
  • Rumors and proposals are starting to percolate, revealing the steep incline the Nuggets face to remain a championship contender.
    Troy Renck, Denver Post, 29 May 2026
Adjective
  • His sloped shoulders suggested bodily power that was sleepy and sly; his large head and dark, badly cut hair amplified the weight and solidity of him, but his lips were sensitive and a little slack, as if yearning for something he’d been long deprived of.
    Mary Gaitskill, New Yorker, 22 Feb. 2026
  • The sloped, landscaped half-acre lot offers a terrace and a two-car garage.
    The Week US, TheWeek, 30 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Diagonal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diagonal. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.

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