An orthogonal pair of polarized filters put together will block all light, but put a third one between them at a diagonal angle and some light will pass through.
Source: tatoeba (13074396)
Orthogonal
/ɔːˈθɒɡ.ə.nəl/
Synonyms for "orthogonal" (56 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (12)
Strong matches (16)
Adjective(1 words)
Adjective(5 words)
normal force amountperpendicularperpendicular alignmentperpendicular reactionperpendicular reaction magnitude
Noun(4 words)
normal force conceptnormal forcesperpendicular forceperpendicular to surface
Related words (28)
plungingprecipitousquadrangularquadratequadriformquadrilateralrectangularrhombicrhomboidright-angleright-angledright-angularsheersquaresteepstraight-upstraight-up-and-downtetragonaltetrahedraltrapezohedral
Show 2 more words
trapezoidup-and-down
Adjective(3 words)
Noun(3 words)
surface normalsurface normal forceunrelated parts
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: cube-shaped, cubed, cubic, cubical, cubiform.
- Sentence evidence is available for orthogonal, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, wordnet, opengloss, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "orthogonal".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "orthogonal"
Keep "orthogonal" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "orthogonal" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "orthogonal", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "orthogonal" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
4 entriesMore specific
9 entriesindependent moduleloose couplingmodular componentnormal vectororthogonal contrastorthogonal designperpendicular lineperpendicular planeuncorrelated variable
Collocations
6 entriesorthogonal basisorthogonal decompositionorthogonal designorthogonal matrixorthogonal projectionorthogonal vector
Inflections
2 entriesmore orthogonalmost orthogonal
Derivations
4 entriessimilar
3 entriesTranslations
19 translations across 16 languages.
Catalan
1 entries- ortogonal adj (mathematical term)
Chinese Mandarin
1 entries- 正交的 adj (mathematical term)
Czech
1 entries- kolmý adj (mathematical term)
Dutch
1 entries- orthogonaal adj (mathematical term)
Finnish
1 entries- ortogonaalinen adj (mathematical term)
French
1 entries- orthogonal adj (mathematical term)
Georgian
1 entries- მართკუთხა adj (mathematical term)
German
2 entries- orthogonal adj (mathematical term)
- senkrecht adj (mathematical term)
Hungarian
1 entries- ortogonális adj (mathematical term)
Irish
2 entries- ingearach adj (mathematical term)
- ortagánach adj (mathematical term)
Norwegian Bokmål
1 entries- ortogonal adj (mathematical term)
Norwegian Nynorsk
1 entries- ortogonal adj (mathematical term)
Polish
2 entries- ortogonalny adj (mathematical term)
- prostopadły adj (mathematical term)
Russian
1 entries- ортогона́льный adj (mathematical term)
Spanish
1 entries- ortogonal adj (mathematical term)
Swedish
1 entries- ortogonal adj (mathematical term)
Sample sentences
9 total sentences available.
Prove that straight line AB is orthogonal to straight line DC.
Source: tatoeba (13074405)
These two lines are orthogonal.
Source: tatoeba (13074407)
A chord and the radius that bisects it are orthogonal.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 9 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "orthogonal"?
Closest matches include cube-shaped, cubed, cubic, cubical, cubiform.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "orthogonal"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.