off-kilter

adjective

off-kil·​ter ˈȯf-ˈkil-tər How to pronounce off-kilter (audio)
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.
Equally at ease with bracing, dramatic emotions and an eccentrically off-kilter sense of humor, Victor explores the stutter steps of small victories and minor setbacks that eventually lead to growth, perhaps never quite leaving a painful moment fully behind but moving forward all the same. Greg Braxton, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2025 While the council is used to being feared, Yumeko, who has secret reasons for attending the school, eagerly steps into their crosshairs, and her presence throws the entire ecosystem of St. Dominic’s off-kilter. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 15 May 2025 With its fast-changing time signatures and off-kilter melodies, this song is treacherous ground for any singer. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 May 2025 There’s always something uncanny in there that’s a little off-kilter. Josh Weiss, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025 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 29 May. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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