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
Thinly slice remaining 1 scallion on a diagonal; set aside for serving. Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Apr. 2026 Its lens also offers the widest coverage among single-lens action cams, covering a staggering 159° diagonal viewing angle, and, of course, supports narrower views for vlogging with reduced distortion. Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
Slice tenderloins crosswise on the diagonal. Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 18 Aug. 2025 France is often associated with having an 'empty' middle, a strip of vast land that traverses the country diagonally (the 'diagonale du vide', the empty diagonal), which is less populated than its mountains or coastlines and has fewer infrastructure and services. Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for diagonal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diagonal
Adjective
  • Shortstop Mookie Betts played in his first game since sustaining a strained right oblique last month, finishing with a single and throwing out a runner at home.
    Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
  • When Betts landed on the 10-day IL on April 5 with an oblique strain, the Dodgers elected to platoon the middle infield but anointed Alex Freeland the starting second baseman.
    Katie Woo, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Noun
  • The gangway up to the Empire State VII slopes from the dock at Fort Schuyler in the Bronx, where the East River meets the Long Island Sound.
    Steve Kastenbaum, NPR, 9 May 2026
  • Forecasters warned of elevated fire danger across Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties; the Kern County desert; and the slopes of the Mojave Desert.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 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
  • Specifically, the inclination of consumers to search for lower prices during a spike.
    Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
  • Like des Esseintes’s inclination toward the antiquated, Carly’s taste for vintage kitsch runs retro-romantic.
    Olivia Kan-Sperling, Artforum, 2 May 2026
Noun
  • The incline has seen this kind of thing before.
    Patrick Damp, CBS News, 8 May 2026
  • Between slick tiles and steep inclines, locals rely on comfortable, supportive shoes—usually sleek sneakers, sturdy flats, or low-profile sandals.
    Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 30 Apr. 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 14 May. 2026.

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