kilter

noun

kil·​ter ˈkil-tər How to pronounce kilter (audio)
Synonyms of kilternext
: proper or usual state or condition : order
out of kilter

Examples of kilter in a Sentence

since I dropped my food processor, it's been all out of 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.
And just like natural hormone swings can throw your sleep off-kilter, so too can tweaking your hormonal BC, for instance shifting to a different combination pill or to or from a hormonal intrauterine device (IUD). Erica Sloan, SELF, 24 Mar. 2026 During summer, El Niños tend to ramp up high-altitude wind shear over the Atlantic, knocking potential hurricanes off kilter. Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 17 Mar. 2026 On Bleecker Street, between Elizabeth and the Bowery, a shabby storefront, painted murky green, was once a destination for generations of photographers who had learned their trade by poring over the off-kilter images of Robert Frank. Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 10 Mar. 2026 That means some of the oddball stuff that had a moment toward the end of the Peak TV boom is falling away, sadly — no one’s greenlighting something as off kilter as The OA or Servant these days. Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 21 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for kilter

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1628, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of kilter was in 1628

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Kilter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kilter. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

kilter

noun
kil·​ter ˈkil-tər How to pronounce kilter (audio)
: proper condition
the TV is out of kilter

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