skew

1 of 3

verb

ˈskyü 

skewed; skewing; skews

intransitive verb

1

: to take an oblique course

2

: to look askance

transitive verb

1

: to make, set, or cut on the skew

2

: to distort especially from a true value or symmetrical form

skew

2 of 3

adjective

1

: set, placed, or running obliquely : slanting

2

: more developed on one side or in one direction than another : not symmetrical

skew

3 of 3

noun

: a deviation from a straight line : slant

Examples of skew in a Sentence

Verb

They were accused of skewing the facts to fit their theory.

He accused them of skewing the rules in their favor.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Equally, local business leaders and economists have been perplexed by the fact that the tariffs have been calculated on the back of a trade deficit that was skewed by the export of gold – the deficit is now a surplus. —Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025

And negotiators will still need to iron out differences between the House bills, which skew far more conservative, and the Senate versions, which have to be written to get some Democratic support. —Aris Folley, The Hill, 5 Aug. 2025

Adjective

Convenient menu customizations help make up for recipes that skew pretty basic. —Alexis Berger, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 Aug. 2025

But Crayton also pointed out that states with Democratic majorities, like Illinois, have responded with their own maps that also skew districts in their favor, leading to an endless cycle. —Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2025

Noun

If other continents objected to the skew, the United States could propose capping each UN region to three or four countries in total, perhaps depending on whether the United States is treated as a formal member of the Western European and Other group. —Suzanne Nossel, Foreign Affairs, 7 July 2023

But just as notable a skew was in how the 2025 ACM Awards were dominated by the female of the species… pretty much in inverse proportion to their minuscule representation on the country charts. —Chris Willman, Variety, 9 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, to escape, run obliquely, from Anglo-French *eskiuer, eschiver to escape, avoid — more at eschew

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Adjective

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1688, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing skew

• skew curve
• skew distribution
• skew lines
• skew-whiff

Rhymes for skew

• blew
• blue
• boo
• brew
• chew
• chou
• clue
• coo
• coup
• crew
• cue
• dew

Kids Definition

skew

verb

ˈskyü

1

: to take a slanting course : move or turn aside : swerve

2

: to distort from a true value or symmetrical form

skewed the facts to fit their theory