off-kilter

adjective

off-kil·​ter ˈȯf-ˈkil-tər How to pronounce off-kilter (audio)
Synonyms of off-kilternext
1
: not in perfect balance : a bit askew
off-kilter camera angles
His hat was slightly off-kilter.
2
: eccentric, unconventional
off-kilter characters
an off-kilter approach

Examples of off-kilter in a Sentence

he's nice enough, but there's something a little off-kilter about him to me, the painting on the wall looks a little off-kilter
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Schiaparelli’s haute couture front row in Paris did not go into full surrealist shoe mode on Monday, but the house’s taste for the slightly off-kilter footwear still had a subtle presence. Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 6 July 2026 And because the cut is all about an off-kilter feel, natural texture only lends to the structure. Calin Van Paris, InStyle, 4 July 2026 The way Adult Swim’s slate of low-fi, off-kilter programming managed to interrupt the monotony of 2000s cable TV, Friedland’s show follows a familiar format while subtly contorting it. Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 29 June 2026 Her style was wholly her own, with a delightfully strange mix of off-kilter compositions, deadpan facial expressions, and historical references. Grace Edquist, Vogue, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for off-kilter

Word History

First Known Use

1929, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of off-kilter was in 1929

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Cite this Entry

“Off-kilter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/off-kilter. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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