diagonal 1 of 2

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
Over the weekend, around 16,000 people paid their respects to the designer at his funeral chamber at the Armani Teatro designed by Tadao Ando, filled with white flowers and paper lanterns on the floor in a diagonal grid formation dimly lit up the darkened venue. Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2025 Both show the shift of weight from one foot to the other and the emphasis on the arching and diagonal twist of the torso, which creates a sense of motion and emotion. Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 30 Aug. 2025
Noun
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 The bottom-left to top-right diagonal represents the winning percentage of teams against opponents of the same seed. Giovanni Malloy, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for diagonal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diagonal
Adjective
  • An oblique injury last season didn’t help.
    Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Elias Díaz exited Saturday’s game after feeling left oblique discomfort during a swing.
    Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • While this does not sound terribly steep, this was in Earth's gravity — in the lower gravity of Mars, this would be equivalent to a 30 degree slope.
    Keith Cooper, Space.com, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Demand for workers has been on a downward slope for much of this year.
    Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • LaCombe, who played forward in his youth, has shown great improvement in his own end but still has the offensive inclinations to be a point producer.
    Eric Stephens, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Redford also shared that despite his inclination to public service, his ambitions were not political.
    Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Other disruptive technologies of the future could dent their incline.
    Rebecca A. Fannin, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
  • In January, Unitree showcased its G1 robot’s smooth walking and running system, demonstrating agility, stability, and precise control on inclines and uneven terrain.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Inside, its sloped rooflines, expansive windows, and original stone fireplace made an immediate impression.
    Kristen Flanagan, Architectural Digest, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Snipers set up on a very sloped roof on a suspect barricaded in a motel.
    Harper’s Magazine, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Diagonal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diagonal. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

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