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
Wooden vessels for polar exploration typically reinforced the hulls internally with diagonal support beams, which braced the sides of the ship against lateral compression from powerful sea ice, said Tuhkuri, who researches the mechanics of ice. Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2025 Arrange half of the diagonal banana slices over pastry cream. Emily Teel, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Sep. 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
  • The 49ers are 4-2 but can’t run the ball effectively and quarterbacks Brock Purdy (turf toe) and Mac Jones (knee, oblique) are hobbling.
    Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Two other names on the injury report for Buffalo are tight end Dalton Kincaid (oblique, questionable) and wide receiver/kick returner Curtis Samuel (neck/ribs, questionable).
    Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Mürren-Schilthorn, with its 31 miles of ski slopes, is typically described as the most advanced of the areas.
    Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 11 Oct. 2025
  • The west slope of the northern Sierra Nevada Mountains, including the city of Blue Canyon, will be impacted.
    Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • As Tuchel attested, England’s inclination to regain possession was as impressive as their work on the ball.
    Mark Carey, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
  • But Iapetus’s inclination and equatorial ridge — which is more continuous on the Saturn-facing side — remain mysterious.
    Big Think, Big Think, 9 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The Beautyrest adjustable bed has pre-empted your modification needs in many ways, from head-and foot-rest incline options to a zero-gravity preset that provides a feeling of weightlessness.
    Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Fold it halfway to add extra cushioning for your joints during exercises that engage your knees and elbows, or fold it up completely to create support for incline and decline moves.
    Lily Wohlner, Allure, 9 Oct. 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 18 Oct. 2025.

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