askew

adjective

ə-ˈskyü How to pronounce askew (audio)
Definition of askewnext
as in tilted
inclined or twisted to one side his hat was askew because of the wind

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 askew Crook’s world is slightly askew while remaining emotionally true. — Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026 Even if intentions are askew, such mass volunteering still gets necessary community work done. — Anya Joseph, Mercury News, 8 July 2026 Amodei, who has a mop of curly hair and perennially askew glasses, gives the impression of a restless savant who has been patiently coached to restrain his spasmodic energy. — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026 When combined Robinson’s primal screams and the writing team’s knack for crafting slightly askew sentences that turn into dialogue earworms, the fake company names a potent blend of comedy that feels like it was always destined to define comedy in the 2020s. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2025 Those askew wigs aside, Ackerman gives a memorably borderline-unhinged performance as a Texas housewife focused on keeping her trailer-trash background out of the public eye. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for askew
  1. tilted
  2. uneven
  3. crooked
  4. oblique
Adjective
  • Carl lowers his head like a hitter hit by a pitch, then rouses himself and breaks into a stiff, elderly trot, shooting a salute over at whoever’s inside the tilted little guard hut.
    — George Saunders, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The tilted surfaces were mostly chosen to mimic raindrops in the real world.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of tilted
Adjective
  • The brand's signature technology combines a retinoid with lactic acid to smooth fine lines, uneven tone, and rough texture, and its AlphaRet Exfoliating Peel Pads take things a step further.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 21 Oct. 2026
  • These accounts often waive monthly fees without a minimum balance and offer larger transaction or cash deposit allowances, since nonprofits may see uneven cash flow tied to grant cycles and fundraising.
    — Andreina Rodriguez, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of uneven
Adjective
  • Finding no legal recourse in a city with a crooked police department and judiciary, Matt gives in to despair.
    — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Others convicted in relation to the robbery included Brian Reader, a career criminal who was involved in other high-profile robberies before and after Brink’s-Mat, crooked solicitor Michael Relton, and McAvoy’s wife, Kathleen.
    — Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of crooked
Adjective
  • Rookie Cameron Carr is out and day-to-day because of a right oblique strain.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The Lakers were without new guard Collin Sexton (calf) and first-round pick Cameron Carr (oblique), and swingman Jake LaRavia left the court limping in the fourth quarter.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of oblique

Browse Nearby Words

askers
askew
ask (for)
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Askew.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/askew. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of grotesque

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All