as in slopes
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 gradients
Melissa, still one of the most obvious jelly shoe authorities, took the softer surreal lane with Susan Fang, bringing jelly into floral ballet flats, Sakura platform details and opaque-to-clear gradients.
—
Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 12 May 2026
The very act of extracting energy from those gradients and feeding off of it, in some variety, is what fuels all biological processes at their core.
—Big Think, 9 Apr. 2026
Human eyes are remarkably good at sensing color gradients and brightness changes.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 9 Apr. 2026
Once the dome opens, the telescope and its supporting mechanical structures are exposed to extreme cold and sharp thermal gradients.
—Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 30 Mar. 2026
These wind gusts are usually the product of strong pressure gradients or large changes in pressure over short distances.
—Ray Petelin, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
The diffused color gradients will bring life to more drab office setups, and be a nice nod to the marble book ends sitting on the neighboring bookshelf.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 23 Mar. 2026
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
Soft sorbet shades worn as gradients, accents and French tips make for a gorgeous nod to spring.
—Elle Turner, Glamour, 10 Mar. 2026
Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 12 May 2026
The very act of extracting energy from those gradients and feeding off of it, in some variety, is what fuels all biological processes at their core.
—Big Think, 9 Apr. 2026
Human eyes are remarkably good at sensing color gradients and brightness changes.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 9 Apr. 2026
Once the dome opens, the telescope and its supporting mechanical structures are exposed to extreme cold and sharp thermal gradients.
—Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 30 Mar. 2026
These wind gusts are usually the product of strong pressure gradients or large changes in pressure over short distances.
—Ray Petelin, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
The diffused color gradients will bring life to more drab office setups, and be a nice nod to the marble book ends sitting on the neighboring bookshelf.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 23 Mar. 2026
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
Soft sorbet shades worn as gradients, accents and French tips make for a gorgeous nod to spring.
—Elle Turner, Glamour, 10 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gradients
Noun
-
The stout, middle-aged man, was due to have cataract surgery in April at the clinic in Catacamas, which sits on the lowest slopes of a bushy hill some four hours east of Tegucigalpa, the country’s capital.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
-
See the slopes from some south-facing rooms—you’ll also be looking down on the foot traffic of Jardin Alpin.—
Matt Ortile,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Unlike rigid, stiff hiking boots, these felt cloud-like and responsive with every stride, which is essential during the repetitive stress of Alpine descents and inclines.—
Nicolette Accardi,
Travel + Leisure,
30 May 2026
-
During certain portions of the race, competitors are forced to scramble on all fours while navigating steep inclines and narrow descents.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
25 May 2026
Noun
-
Born to a humble family in the twilight years of the shogunate, Higuchi Natsuko (as she was born) was the fourth child and second daughter of a man with scholarly inclinations, who as a farmer had come to the capital to seek both fortune and rank.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 May 2026
-
Over the last week or so, the four satellites adjusted their inclinations—the angles of their orbits to the equator—by less than a degree.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gradients.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gradients. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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