athwart

1 of 2

preposition

ə-ˈthwȯrt 

 nautical often  -ˈthȯrt

1

: across

2

: in opposition to

a procedure directly athwart the New England prejudices

—R. G. Cole

athwart

2 of 2

adverb

1

: across especially in an oblique direction

2

: in opposition to the right or expected course

and quite athwart goes all decorum

—William Shakespeare

Synonyms

Preposition

• across
• over
• around
• through

Adverb

• through
• across
• over

Examples of athwart in a Sentence

Preposition

athwart the road was farmland as far as the eye could see

Adverb

after it enters the Gulf of Mexico, the hurricane is predicted to advance athwart to the Texas coastline

we hung the twisted strips of crepe paper athwart to the floor and ceiling so that they formed giant crosses on all four walls

Recent Examples on the Web

Preposition

An obstructionist Supreme Court, however, stood athwart the New Deal’s path. —John Fabian Witt, The New Republic, 26 Aug. 2022

One of the world’s largest container ships was wedged athwart the Suez canal on March 24th, apparently blown off course by high winds. —The Economist, 24 Mar. 2021

One of the world’s largest container ships was wedged athwart the Suez Canal on March 23rd, blown off course by high winds. —The Economist, 27 Mar. 2021

The outgoing Trump administration is standing athwart a massive investment management trend. —Michael Taylor, ExpressNews.com, 2 Dec. 2020

Her mother, feeling abandoned by her constantly traveling husband, had affairs; her father’s heartfelt liberalism would run athwart of the postwar Red Scare. —Elsa Dixler, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Apr. 2020

Indeed, instead of ostentatious acts of helping people, the administration almost preferred being seen standing athwart attempts to provide relief. —Alex Pareene, The New Republic, 20 Dec. 2019

Word History

First Known Use

Preposition

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for athwart

• abort
• airport
• alport
• carport
• comport
• consort
• deport
• distort
• escort
• exhort
• extort
• forecourt

Kids Definition

athwart

1 of 2 preposition

ə-ˈthwȯ(ə)rt 

 nautical often  -thȯ(ə)rt

1

: across entry 2 sense 1

2

: in opposition to

athwart

2 of 2 adverb

: across entry 1 sense 1