Definition of gradientnext
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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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 gradient This blue gradient set has all the elements of an ideal vacation lineup. Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 5 July 2026 The original Östereichring was a spectacular thing, with steep gradients, long straights, and high-speed curves, surrounded by views of the Styrian mountains. Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 29 June 2026 Schiavo said the Federal Railroad Administration issues national standards on train crossing gradients. The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 25 June 2026 Deep atmospheric mixing of wind energy aloft and a tight pressure gradient will result in strong sustained winds between 20 mph to 30 mph. Trey Fulbright, CBS News, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for gradient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gradient
Noun
  • Several hours later, rescuers carried the injured on stretchers and recovered the dead in makeshift carts, painstakingly hauling them back up the rugged slope, official Noor Zaman said.
    ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
  • This hard-working plant tolerates heat, drought, salt, and humidity, and provides good soil stabilization on slopes.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 3 July 2026
Noun
  • Serrano comes across as someone with no inclination to coddle elite students.
    Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 8 July 2026
  • But their former ubiquity suggests an age when Americans had the inclination and ability to read serious works of literature.
    Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
Noun
  • The riverfront includes steep inclines, large rocks and uneven ground that can be difficult for workers or machinery to manage safely.
    Sophia Buonpane, Kansas City Star, 29 June 2026
  • Temperatures will be on the incline, reaching into the 90s by lunchtime and the upper 90s by the late afternoon.
    Lauren Bostwick, CBS News, 28 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Gradient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gradient. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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