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
Weak offshore gradients that bring warm desert air to the coast add to the heat, said Robbie Monroe, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
—
Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Featuring a cat-eye silhouette, gold hardware, and a dark tortoise gradient, the Dupont sunglasses are a timeless pick that elevates any outfit while protecting your eyes.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Mar. 2026
Slopes or embankments are classified by their gradient (vertical rise over 100 feet).
—The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
That steep pressure gradient works like the atmosphere stepping on the gas pedal, accelerating winds across the region.
—Vytas Reid, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gradient
Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Featuring a cat-eye silhouette, gold hardware, and a dark tortoise gradient, the Dupont sunglasses are a timeless pick that elevates any outfit while protecting your eyes.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Mar. 2026
Slopes or embankments are classified by their gradient (vertical rise over 100 feet).
—The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
That steep pressure gradient works like the atmosphere stepping on the gas pedal, accelerating winds across the region.
—Vytas Reid, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gradient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gradient
Noun
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The route winds through 36 tunnels, including the historic Moffat Tunnel, before reaching the ski slopes.—
Sponsored Content,
Denver Post,
27 Mar. 2026
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During a training session before the January 2024 event in Laax, Switzerland, Choi hit the lip of the slope while practicing a flat Cab 1080, breaking her back in the subsequent crash.—
Gawon Bae,
CNN Money,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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If conservatism is something of an inclination or disposition, leftism of the more radical sort is a form of all-consuming identity, one that fills vacuums in otherwise empty lives and comprehensively guides behavior.—
Bradley Gitz,
Arkansas Online,
23 Mar. 2026
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The 11 satellites on board are flying to a mid-inclination orbit.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Gontang notes that walking on an incline can make a substantial difference because walking uphill requires more muscle activation and greater energy expenditure than walking on a flat surface.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
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Pitchers throw every day in season between competition days, bullpens, flat ground sessions and box drills off of an incline from 35 feet out.—
Shawn McFarland,
Dallas Morning News,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gradient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gradient. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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