as in vertical
rising straight up
river rafters staring awestruck at the canyon's nearly perpendicular cliffs
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Recent Examples of perpendicular
The spiral runs perpendicular, or at an angle of 90 degrees, to the plane of the Milky Way.
—
Robert Lea, Space.com, 27 Feb. 2025
In their account, around each decoupled point, space stretches in a random direction and compresses in the other two perpendicular directions.
—Lyndie Chiou, Quanta Magazine, 24 Feb. 2025
The video was captured by a bystander who saw the plane coming in to land, with a perpendicular view of the runway.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025
It's commonly used when trying to maximize lift or thrust by flying perpendicular to the direction of the wind.
—New Atlas, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perpendicular
Robert Lea, Space.com, 27 Feb. 2025
In their account, around each decoupled point, space stretches in a random direction and compresses in the other two perpendicular directions.
—Lyndie Chiou, Quanta Magazine, 24 Feb. 2025
The video was captured by a bystander who saw the plane coming in to land, with a perpendicular view of the runway.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025
It's commonly used when trying to maximize lift or thrust by flying perpendicular to the direction of the wind.
—New Atlas, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perpendicular
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perpendicular
Adjective
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The massive movement of water during El Niño can also result in vertical movement of heat throughout the ocean's layers.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
14 Mar. 2025
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These motions, known as vertical land motion, are triggered by both natural and human causes, such as tectonic plate movements or groundwater pumping.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA TODAY,
13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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With Mike Witcher on dobro and Ethan Ballinger on mandolin, guitar, and harmony vocals, the Luke Bulla Trio gave a commanding performance that well-deserved its standing ovations, the news release stated.—
Del Mar Foundation,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Mar. 2025
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Musk got a standing ovation − from the Republican side of the aisle, that is − when Trump acknowledged him, seated in the gallery.—
Susan Page,
USA TODAY,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Tilted up, the erect collars gave the models the image of Bela Lugosi attending a Kiss concert.—
Jacob Gallagher,
New York Times,
24 Jan. 2025
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This action will allow the Department of Defense to deploy active-duty and National Guard military to the southern border, erect barriers, and work on ways to take down enemy drones.—
Joseph Lawler,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
10 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Perpendicular.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perpendicular. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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