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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of diagonal
Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 19 Apr. 2026
First, a mathematical operation known as the Schur pinching channel reorganizes the system into a simpler, diagonal form—something closer to classical data that is easier to handle.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 19 Apr. 2026
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
Adjective
In the second half, Pereyra hit a long diagonal to Chancalay, who gently brought it down with a first touch and dished it for Kelvin Yeboah to tap in.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 19 Apr. 2026
First, a mathematical operation known as the Schur pinching channel reorganizes the system into a simpler, diagonal form—something closer to classical data that is easier to handle.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 19 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
-
Just three weeks after his oblique injury, Reaves was questionable for Games 3 and 4.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Little did the Lakers know that Dončić (hamstring) and Reaves (oblique) would go down heading into the playoffs, but their backcourt backups, Smart and Kennard, had everything to do with their ability to jump out to a 3-0 series lead against Houston (3-1 after Sunday night’s loss).—
Sam Amick,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 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
-
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
-
Others, though, like the Innsdale trail, offer a more breezy walk with some incline, showing off the sparkling blue Hollywood Reservoir on a sunny day (most days in Los Angeles).—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
23 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
Cite this Entry
“Diagonal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diagonal. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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