as in slope
the degree to which something rises up from a position level with the horizon
the path goes up at a pretty steep gradient before leveling off
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Recent Examples of gradient
The tightening pressure gradient between these two systems will result in increasing winds through the afternoon and evening hours.
—
Trey Fulbright, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2025
The image was captured using the telescope's most sensitive X-ray instrument, the European Photon Imaging Camera (EPIC)-pn, revealing a distinct X-ray glow (shown in red) surrounded by fainter gradients.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 18 Dec. 2025
The electric current disperses rapidly through the surrounding medium, causing a voltage gradient that drops sharply with distance.
—IEEE Spectrum, 18 Dec. 2025
Maps show the sharpest temperature gradient setting up north of the Mackinac Bridge, with colder air deepening as the Arctic front moves through.
—Brandi D. Addison, Freep.com, 17 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gradient
Trey Fulbright, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2025
The image was captured using the telescope's most sensitive X-ray instrument, the European Photon Imaging Camera (EPIC)-pn, revealing a distinct X-ray glow (shown in red) surrounded by fainter gradients.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 18 Dec. 2025
The electric current disperses rapidly through the surrounding medium, causing a voltage gradient that drops sharply with distance.
—IEEE Spectrum, 18 Dec. 2025
Maps show the sharpest temperature gradient setting up north of the Mackinac Bridge, with colder air deepening as the Arctic front moves through.
—Brandi D. Addison, Freep.com, 17 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gradient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gradient
Noun
-
Strongest winds will occur on the eastern slopes of the San Bernardino mountains.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Jan. 2026
-
This destabilizes the landscape, weakening steep slopes and damaging critical infrastructure.—
Paul Bierman,
Washington Post,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The inclination to avoid that threshold already impacted Denver’s decision not to sign a rookie contract extension with Peyton Watson last month.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
7 Nov. 2025
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Lin—whose early career at Zappos and mathematical inclinations molded him into an early backer of companies like Airbnb and DoorDash—has been at Sequoia since 2010.—
Allie Garfinkle,
Fortune,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Our tester was also impressed by how quiet the machine was while increasing its incline.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
4 Jan. 2026
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Lows were in the upper 40s, but temperatures will be on the incline throughout the day, topping out in the low 60s.—
Lauren Bostwick,
CBS News,
3 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gradient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gradient. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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