off-kilter

adjective

off-kil·​ter ˈȯf-ˈkil-tər 

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

Synonyms of off-kilter

• bizarre
• strange
• weird
• funny
• odd
• erratic
• peculiar
• curious
• eccentric
• remarkable
• crazy
• unusual

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

Kiah Stokes is an animal down low, and she’s helped throw Atlanta’s offense entirely off-kilter. — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 28 Oct. 2026

Unfortunately, the starry ensemble surrounding Keery felt unevenly weighted and off-kilter, like billiard balls only occasionally landing in the pocket. — Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026

Other highlights included Trucker jackets with balloon-like shapes, jeans with off-kilter closures, ankle ties and convertible pant/short constructions. — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2026

Its warped vocal harmonies are ripe and sour, including guest appearances from the band’s friends, and off-kilter squiggles on steel guitar deviate from their usual pattern. — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1929, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for off-kilter

• filter
• kilter
• quilter