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
According to the news release, there is a design gradient on the livery that’s a repeat of a Cadillac chevron, giving a nod to General Motors’ co-ownership and Cadillac’s symbol.
—
Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
To prove the full conjecture, the mathematicians had to get even better bounds on the sizes of the gradient’s pieces.
—Quanta Magazine, 6 Feb. 2026
However, each hue is really three shades apiece; the bottom third of the tower is painted darker than the middle third, and the middle darker than the top so that the paint job looks uniform against the gradient of the blue(ish) sky.
—Drew Goins, The Atlantic, 2 Feb. 2026
Color blocking is when an item is painted in two distinct shades without any gradient between the two.
—Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gradient
Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
To prove the full conjecture, the mathematicians had to get even better bounds on the sizes of the gradient’s pieces.
—Quanta Magazine, 6 Feb. 2026
However, each hue is really three shades apiece; the bottom third of the tower is painted darker than the middle third, and the middle darker than the top so that the paint job looks uniform against the gradient of the blue(ish) sky.
—Drew Goins, The Atlantic, 2 Feb. 2026
Color blocking is when an item is painted in two distinct shades without any gradient between the two.
—Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gradient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gradient
Noun
-
The ski slope was abandoned at some point after the 1950s, but Neutaconkanut continues to be a popular yet highly dangerous destination for sledding.—
Antonia Noori Farzan,
The Providence Journal,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Although the designer has never been on skis, that didn’t stop him from basing his fall collection on fashions near the slopes.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
Footwear News,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Babcock shows no signs, or inclination, of slowing.—
Brad Townsend,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Feb. 2026
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The simulations also show that Chrysalis would have perturbed Iapetus's orbit, leading to its high inclination.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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There was treadmill work, the running deck set at steep inclines, the speed gradually increasing.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
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The world outside Silo residents have little idea what's outside, because their video feed shows nothing but scrub, dead trees, and the corpses of deceased cleaners — everything else is obscured by the incline strategically placed around the entrance to the bunker.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gradient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gradient. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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