off-kilter

adjective

off-kil·​ter ˈȯf-ˈkil-tər How to pronounce off-kilter (audio)
Synonyms of off-kilternext
1
: not in perfect balance : a bit askew
off-kilter camera angles
His hat was slightly off-kilter.
2
: eccentric, unconventional
off-kilter characters
an off-kilter approach

Examples of off-kilter in a Sentence

he's nice enough, but there's something a little off-kilter about him to me, the painting on the wall looks a little off-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.
Rhys says, expertly capturing Root’s off-kilter delivery. Emma Fraser, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026 Brunson, smothered by the Spurs’ tenacious defense, missed shot after shot, but—clutch as ever—tied the game at 104 with an off-kilter jumper, then was in the right place to make the game-winning play when Wembanyama threw the ball away, and scored the game-winning point. Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 7 June 2026 But this note was born when my equally off-kilter Starkville co-host, Doug Glanville, sent me a photo this week from a Mets-Mariners game in Seattle. Jayson Stark, New York Times, 5 June 2026 Fans of the legendary designer and his whimsical, punk, off-kilter designs have been buzzing since the recent announcement that the Marc Jacobs Beauty brand would be making a triumphant return after a five-year hiatus. Kelsey Legg, ABC News, 1 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for off-kilter

Word History

First Known Use

1929, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of off-kilter was in 1929

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Cite this Entry

“Off-kilter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/off-kilter. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.

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