oblique

noun

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

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 on the Web

Twenty days after sustaining a Grade 2 strain of his left oblique, Altuve returned to the Houston Astros’ starting lineup on Friday night, completing a comeback few presumed could proceed at this pace. —Chandler Rome, New York Times, 5 June 2026

But then a fluke injury to his oblique during batting practice on Opening Day sidelined him for a month. —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026

Shortstop Mookie Betts is expected to return Monday from a strained right oblique, forcing a difficult roster decision. —Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026

The 2023 All-Star was set to make his season debut after being sidelined with a strained oblique. —ABC News, 3 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

derivative of oblique entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1608, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing oblique

• oblique angle
• oblique case

Rhymes for oblique

• antique
• batik
• bespeak
• boutique
• cacique
• comique
• critique
• grosbeak
• midweek
• mystique
• physique
• pratique

Kids Definition

oblique

adjective

ō-ˈblēk, 

ə-, 

-ˈblīk

1

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

2

: having the axis not perpendicular to the base

an oblique cone

3

: having no right angle

an oblique triangle

4

a

: not straightforward or direct

b

: devious

obliquely adverb

obliqueness noun

Medical Definition

oblique

1 of 2 adjective

ō-ˈblēk  ə- 

-ˈblīk

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

2 of 2 noun

variants or oblique muscle

: 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