athwart 1 of 2

1
as in through
from one side to the other of an intervening space after it enters the Gulf of Mexico, the hurricane is predicted to advance athwart to the Texas coastline

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Relevance
2
as in diagonally
in a line or direction running from corner to corner we hung the twisted strips of crepe paper athwart to the floor and ceiling so that they formed giant crosses on all four walls

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

athwart

2 of 2

preposition

as in across
to the opposite side of athwart the road was farmland as far as the eye could see

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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 athwart
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for athwart
Adverb
  • Before the atypical winter wildfires tore through, some companies had already decided California was too risky and too expensive to insure.
    The Sorenson Impact Institute, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
  • Nationwide, 75,000 federal employees have already submitted resignations in response to an incentive offer, and Mr. Musk has announced plans that, if allowed to go through, would mean thousands more workers will lose their jobs.
    Campbell Robertson, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
Adverb
  • The pickup truck leading them parks diagonally and obstructs oncoming vehicles.
    Alfredo Sosa, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Jan. 2025
  • They’re hidden horizontally, vertically, diagonally and backward.
    Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 29 Dec. 2024
Preposition
  • In addition, the experimentation with new types and combinations of materials continues to be at the forefront of design and innovation across the industry.
    Cait Bazemore, Robb Report, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Affected workers live across the country, representing dozens of states.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
Adverb
  • When the piece is over, my friend scrapes her bow down the strings, and Millie howls with laughter.
    Danilyn Rutherford, TIME, 22 Feb. 2025
  • Vance informed Europe’s leaders that the days of unconditional American support were over.
    Dominic Green, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Feb. 2025
Preposition
  • The latest to hit the market comes from World Whiskey Society, an non-distilling producer that sources different styles of whiskey from around the world, often giving them a secondary maturation in another set of casks.
    Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 21 Feb. 2025
  • Chaos quickly unfolds when the bickering, different-strokes twins find the calamitous heirloom—although Perkins keeps the first act mostly mournful, as the boys struggle with the onslaught of death around them.
    David Sims, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Athwart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/athwart. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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