oblique

adjective

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\ ō-ˈblēk

, ə-, -ˈblīk; military usually -ˈblīk

Definition of oblique

(Entry 1 of 3)

1a : 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

2a : 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

oblique

noun

\ ō-ˈblēk

, ə-, -ˈblīk; military usually -ˈblīk \

Definition of oblique (Entry 2 of 3)

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

oblique

adverb

\ ō-ˈblēk

, ə-, -ˈblīk; military usually -ˈblīk \

Definition of oblique (Entry 3 of 3)

: at a 45 degree angle To the right oblique, march!

Other Words from oblique Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about oblique

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Examples of oblique in a Sentence

Adjective 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 Noun 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 on the Web: Adjective Woods withdrew after first round of 2019 Northern Trust because of oblique muscle strain. — Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, "Tiger Woods has experienced a long list of injuries and surgeries," 24 Feb. 2021 In a new Medium post, the data-visualization expert Rob Simmon collects some of the best oblique photos taken so far. — Robinson Meyer, The Atlantic, "The Weekly Planet: Why Biden is Buying 645,000 New Cars," 26 Jan. 2021 Johnson notoriously whipped up crowds of white reactionaries with both oblique and specific threats against Radical Republican members of Congress. — Alex Pareene, The New Republic, "An Impeachment Trial Will Be Good Practice for Actual Oversight," 15 Jan. 2021 That potential switch would create an opening at third base, where David Bote showed improvement during stints when Bryant was sidelined because of bow, wrist and oblique injuries. — Mark Gonzales, chicagotribune.com, "Today’s Chicago Cubs are still utilizing Joe Maddon’s methods. In a time of turnover, they continue to embrace positionless baseball.," 20 Dec. 2020 Behind and above them, a layered reddish rock rises a kilometre or more, its sturdy ridges casting stripes of shadow in the oblique light. — The Economist, "Extraterrestrial hiking Following the tracks of NASA’s Curiosity rover," 16 Dec. 2020 The intent was to land Surveyor 2 on the Moon just east of its predecessor to demonstrate the feasibility of an oblique approach and landing. — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, "Strange object recaptured by Earth is 1966 booster rocket from Surveyor 2," 8 Dec. 2020 Berry said Garrett won’t need surgery on his oblique injury suffered vs. the Chiefs. — Mary Kay Cabot, cleveland, "Andrew Berry optimistic Grant Delpit and Greedy Williams healthy in 2021; Denzel Ward needed oxygen on sidelines post-COVID-19," 21 Jan. 2021 Myles Garrett, who played most of the game with an oblique injury. — Tom Withers, Star Tribune, "Browns' comeback comes up short, fall to Chiefs in playoffs," 17 Jan. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Buffalo’s top two receivers, Diggs (oblique) and Cole Beasley (knee), are listed as questionable. — Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, "Colts vs. Bills live stream (1/9): How to watch NFL Wild Card round online, TV, time," 9 Jan. 2021 Potter’s ironies, veering between the blunt and the exquisite, the oblique and the confrontational, expose the cruel hazards of nature and the perversities of culture. — Richard Brody, The New Yorker, "Five Movies About Royals to Compete with “The Crown”," 20 Nov. 2020 Among the latest reports: patella tendinitis; right intercostal strain; right oblique; adductor. — Star Tribune, "Readers Write: Trump and the virus, the Electoral College, jargon," 10 Sep. 2020 Soler hasn't played since Sept. 5 and has been dealing with a strained right oblique. — Steve Megargee, Star Tribune, "Nottingham's slam helps Brewers rally to beat Royals 9-5," 18 Sep. 2020 Giants outfield prospect Heliot Ramos, their top pick in the 2017 draft, has missed the past 10 days of Arizona instructional league games after reinjuring his left oblique, The Chronicle has learned. — Henry Schulman, SFChronicle.com, "Key Giants prospect Heliot Ramos sidelined in instructional league with oblique injury," 18 Oct. 2020 Right-hander Corbin Martin suffered a strained left oblique during an outing at the club’s alternate site last week, General Manager Mike Hazen said. — Nick Piecoro, The Arizona Republic, "Ketel Marte’s power yet to arrive for Arizona Diamondbacks' lineup," 19 Aug. 2020 Beyond missing Burnes, who strained his left oblique in his final outing last Thursday in St. Louis, the Brewers also left veteran left-hander Brett Anderson off their roster for the series. — Tom Haudricourt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Brewers' strikeout sensation Devin Williams out for playoff series in L.A. with shoulder issue," 30 Sep. 2020 The Cubs reflected on clinching their third National League Central title in six seasons, but Bryant didn’t need much goading when asked about coping with a barrage of criticism after missing four games because of lower right oblique tightness. — Mark Gonzales, chicagotribune.com, "Kris Bryant responds to critics with his bat — and some profanity — after hitting a grand slam in the Cubs’ loss to the White Sox," 27 Sep. 2020

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.

History and Etymology for oblique

Adjective

Middle English oblique, oblike, borrowed from Anglo-French oblic, oblique, borrowed from Latin oblīquus "slanting, transverse," from ob- "against, facing" + -līquus, of uncertain meaning and origin — more at ob-

Noun

derivative of oblique entry 1

Adverb

derivative of oblique entry 1

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Last Updated

6 Mar 2021

Cite this Entry

“Oblique.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oblique. Accessed 7 Mar. 2021.

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More Definitions for oblique

oblique

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of oblique

: not direct : not stated directly

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

See the full definition for oblique in the English Language Learners Dictionary

oblique

adjective

\ ō-ˈblēk

, ə- \

Kids Definition of oblique

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

oblique

adjective

\ ō-ˈblēk

, ə-

, -ˈblīk \

Medical Definition of oblique

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : neither perpendicular nor parallel : being on an incline

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

oblique

noun

variants: or oblique muscle

Medical Definition of oblique (Entry 2 of 2)

: 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

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