1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
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
-
Once the cold front moves through, meteorologists anticipate clean air will follow.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 May 2025
-
Material The best covers use heavy-duty materials that won’t break down in high winds, fade in the sun, rip and tear, or allow water to leak through.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
30 May 2025
Adverb
-
Arbuckle watched as the group marched diagonally across an intersection on Main Street.—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
28 May 2025
-
Following complaints about drivers parking diagonally at a curb beside Torrey Pines Road in La Jolla, the city of San Diego bumped up its schedule to paint the section of curb red to keep people from parking there.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Apr. 2025
Preposition
-
Five of those countries are on the new list, plus several more countries across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, as well as Cuba, Haiti and Venezuela.—
Allison McCann,
New York Times,
5 June 2025
-
After defenseman Rob Scuderi saved the Game 6 win by stopping Johan Franzen with Fleury out of position, Fleury saved Game 7 in the last seconds by diving across the goal mouth to stone Lidstrom on a rebound.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2025
Adverb
-
Supporters say this is the mark of a unifying candidate, though the fear remains that once voting is over, the old bitterness and acrimony will return without wholesale reform.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
29 May 2025
-
About 10 minutes later, the boat flipped over because of strong wind and both people fell into the water.—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
28 May 2025
Preposition
-
Best of The Bee: California changes rules around trans athletes after Trump’s threat to halt funding, via Lia Russell.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
28 May 2025
-
It’s proven so popular in the West Village that on Saturday and Sundays at brunch the lines stretch around the block on Charles St, and some pesky New Yorkers move on, rather than wait.—
Gary Stern,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Athwart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/athwart. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share