* Literal: The ship sailed athwart the current, its bow struggling against the strong flow.
* Figurative: Her plans were athwart my own, creating a conflict that seemed impossible to resolve.
* Formal: The knight stood athwart the doorway, his sword drawn and his face grim.
* Poetic: The wind howled athwart the ancient oak, its branches twisting in the tempest.
Note: "Athwart" is a rather formal and archaic word, so it's best used sparingly in everyday conversation.