oblique

adjective \ ō-ˈblēk , ə- , -ˈblīk ; military usually -ˈblīk \

Updated on: 13 Apr 2018

Definition of oblique

1 a : neither perpendicular nor parallel : inclined

oblique lines

b : having the axis not perpendicular to the base

an oblique cone

c : having no right angle

an oblique triangle

2 a : not straightforward : indirect

In her speech she made only oblique references to the scandal.

; also : obscure

… much of what there is to see is nuanced and oblique — a shadow of a shadow of a shadow.
—New Yorker

b : devious, underhanded

… the open, above-board fury of his mind coagulated, thickened, and sunk to a dull, evil hatred, a wicked, oblique malevolence.
—Frank Norris

3 : situated at an angle and having one end not inserted on bone

oblique muscles

4 : taken from an airplane with the camera directed horizontally or diagonally downward

an oblique photograph

—

obliquely

adverb

—

obliqueness

noun

See oblique defined for English-language learners

See oblique defined for kids

Examples of oblique in a Sentence

Harden … , who missed a month with a strained left oblique muscle, has become one of the game's most intimidating starters in just his second full big league season. —Albert Chen, Sports Illustrated, 8 Aug. 2005
They were painted in oil paints on old-fashioned canvas. But the manner of their portrayal was oblique and enigmatic, with an element of hide-and-seek in which hiding most often won out over seeking. —John Russell, New York Times Magazine, 11 Nov. 1990
The driveway met the street at an oblique angle, and a jutting corner of the customer's cinderblock building, a large power pole, and a berm of trash (pallets, pails, chunks of wood) made it a dogleg affair. —Bryan Di Salvatore, New Yorker, 12 Sept. 1988
The short lines of the letter “k” are oblique lines.
gave the eavesdropper an oblique glance out of the corner of her eye

Recent Examples of oblique from the Web

Hours after one of the key pieces, Christian Yelich, was placed on the disabled list with a right oblique injury, the Brewers bowed meekly yet again to the Chicago Cubs, 3-0, on Sunday afternoon.

— todd rosiak, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "The Brewers' offense largely a no-show on their opening home stand," 8 Apr. 2018
Delgado, who was slowed in March by a left oblique strain, likely will need a somewhat lengthy rehab assignment on account of missing most of spring training.

— nick piecoro, azcentral, "Diamondbacks add slugging first baseman Christian Walker to roster," 7 Apr. 2018
After an oblique injury prematurely ended his spring training — and his opportunity to make the Astros' opening day bullpen — reliever James Hoyt is on track for a rehab assignment when the minor league season opens, manager A.J. Hinch said Monday.

— chandler rome, Houston Chronicle, "Astros reliever James Hoyt on track to return from oblique injury," 2 Apr. 2018
The other two who figure to start the season are the energizing, productive and versatile Whit Merrifield and Jorge Soler, who at 26 is thought to have big potential despite a rough 2017 that began with an oblique injury.

— vahe gregorian, kansascity, "Why not over-extending for Eric Hosmer will help the Royals now and later | The Kansas City Star," 22 Mar. 2018
Bour was a quietly effective fantasy player all season, until an oblique injury suffered at the end of July cost him more than two months.

— michael beller, SI.com, "First Base Primer: Why the Position Should be a Priority in Fantasy Leagues," 13 Feb. 2018
Motte is replacing Sonny Milano who is sidelined four-to-six weeks with an oblique injury.

— plain dealer sports, cleveland.com, "Cleveland Monsters edge Rockford IceHogs in shootout," 18 Jan. 2018
Stacy Lewis has not played since the season opener in the Bahamas because of a strained oblique muscle.

— dennis manoloff, cleveland.com, "LPGA Tour 2018: Live leaderboard for Kia Classic final round," 25 Mar. 2018
Around the horn Left-hander Chris Lee, who suffered an oblique strain in his second Grapefruit League outing, is back throwing at minor league camp, Showalter said.

— jon meoli, baltimoresun.com, "Orioles notes: Alex Cobb shows he's 'not that far away' in first bullpen session with club," 22 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'oblique.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of oblique

Middle English oblike, from Latin obliquus

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

oblique Synonyms

Phrases

out of plumb (or off plumb);

Other Mathematics and Statistics Terms

abscissa, denominator, divisor, equilateral, exponent, hypotenuse, logarithm, radii, rhomb

oblique

noun \ ō-ˈblēk , ə- , -ˈblīk ; military usually -ˈblīk \

Definition of oblique

1 : something (such as a line) that is oblique

2 or oblique muscle : any of several oblique muscles; especially : any of the thin flat muscles forming the middle and outer layers of the lateral walls of the abdomen

See oblique defined for English-language learners

Examples of oblique in a Sentence

We each received a list of every muscle group (back, inner thighs, outer thighs, quads, biceps, obliques, upper abs, etc.), with detailed comments on which ones we needed to change. —anonymous, Cosmopolitan, November 2007
He hammered on my back with both fists, but I had a lot of muscle layer to protect back there. Twenty years of working on the lats and the lateral obliques. I got hold of his shirtfront with both hands and pulled him away from the wall and slammed him back up against it. —Robert B. Parker, Mortal Stakes, 1975

Recent Examples of oblique from the Web

This move works both the internal and external obliques as well as the transverse and rectus abdominis, says Mansour.

— jenny mccoy, SELF, "2 Challenging Core Moves From Pink’s Trainer That Will Work Your Abs From All Angles," 6 Apr. 2018
Anthony DeSclafani is out indefinitely with a strained left oblique, the third year in a row that the Cincinnati righthander has been hurt during spring training.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Jake Arrieta agrees to three-year deal with Phillies," 11 Mar. 2018
Target Muscles: Abdominals, obliques , glutes, hamstrings and lats.

— angela peterson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "New Year's resolution: Pilates lengthens, strengthens, balances body," 9 Jan. 2018
Take the bar and put it over your head, stretching the obliques, which are the muscles on the side of the torso that allow us to twist.

— tara parker-pope, New York Times, "The Secret Behind Adam Rippon’s Olympic Abs," 16 Feb. 2018
Try adding a twist at the top to recruit the obliques, or just stick with the good ol' toes-to-bar.

— jay willis, GQ, "How to Do Sit-ups the Right Way, According to Personal Trainers," 6 Feb. 2018
Each round consists of isometric plank holds, subtle forward and backward tilts, and twists and dips to work your obliques.

— sarah klein, Health.com, "This Device Turns Your Planks Into a Video Game–and It’s Actually Fun!," 31 Jan. 2018
While trainer Neal Kopasek takes notes on his progress, Ford moves on to the dual cable cross, a strength machine with two cables connected to stacks of weights that works his obliques and core.

— margarita cambest, baltimoresun.com, "Dulaney graduate finds purpose in running," 17 Jan. 2018
Training your obliques is a key part of developing a strong core.

— kate dwyer, SELF, "The Most Googled Workouts and Exercises of 2017—and What They Can Do for You," 13 Dec. 2017

Origin and Etymology of oblique

see ¹oblique

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1608

See Words from the same year

Other Mathematics and Statistics Terms

abscissa, denominator, divisor, equilateral, exponent, hypotenuse, logarithm, oblique, radii, rhomb

oblique

adverb \ ō-ˈblēk , ə- , -ˈblīk ; military usually -ˈblīk \

Definition of oblique

: at a 45 degree angle

To the right oblique, march!

Origin and Etymology of oblique

see ¹oblique

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1687

See Words from the same year

OBLIQUE Defined for English Language Learners

oblique

adjective

Definition of oblique for English Language Learners

: not direct : not stated directly
of a line : having a slanting direction or position : neither perpendicular nor parallel

OBLIQUE Defined for Kids

oblique

adjective \ ō-ˈblēk , ə- \

Definition of oblique for Students

: having a slanting position or direction : neither perpendicular nor parallel

—

obliquely

adverb

Medical Dictionary

oblique

adjective \ ō-ˈblēk , ə- , -ˈblīk \

medical Definition of oblique

1 : neither perpendicular nor parallel : being on an incline

2 : situated obliquely and having one end not inserted on bone

oblique muscles

—

obliquely

adverb

oblique

noun

variants: or oblique muscle

medical Definition of oblique

: any of several oblique muscles: as

a : either of two flat muscles on each side that form the middle and outer layers of the lateral walls of the abdomen, that have aponeuroses extending medially to ensheathe the rectus muscles and fusing in the midventral line in the linea alba, and that act to compress the abdominal contents and to assist in expelling the contents of various visceral organs (as in urination, defecation, parturition, and expiration):

(1) : one that forms the outer layer of the lateral abdominal wall — called also external oblique, obliquus externus, obliquus externus abdominis

(2) : one situated under the external oblique in the lateral and ventral part of the abdominal wall — called also internal oblique, obliquus internus, obliquus internus abdominis

b (1) : a long thin extraocular muscle that arises just above the margin of the optic foramen, is inserted on the upper part of the eyeball, and moves the eye downward and laterally — called also superior oblique, obliquus superior oculi

(2) : a short extraocular muscle that arises from the orbital surface of the maxilla, is inserted slightly in front of and below the superior oblique, and moves the eye upward and laterally — called also inferior oblique, obliquus inferior oculi

c (1) : a muscle that arises from the superior surface of the transverse process of the atlas, passes medially upward to insert into the occipital bone, and functions to extend the head and bend it to the side — called also obliquus capitis superior, obliquus superior

(2) : a muscle that arises from the apex of the spinous process of the axis, inserts into the transverse process of the atlas, and rotates the atlas turning the face in the same direction — called also obliquus capitis inferior, obliquus inferior