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.
Key's Jerry is a disruption through and through, knocking everything just a little off-kilter with each volatile appearance. Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Jan. 2026 With Secret Love, Dry Cleaning find a perfect game-recognize-game accomplice in Welsh indie auteur Cate Le Bon, who’s become not just an in-demand producer, but practically a subgenre unto herself, attracting like-minded practitioners of off-kilter, observational art-pop into her orbit. Stuart Berman, Pitchfork, 9 Jan. 2026 But ultimately, the occasional off-kilter night isn’t something to stress over. Erica Sloan, SELF, 6 Jan. 2026 Smith will often appear surprised with how far he’s gotten into his own off-kilter asides, perhaps touching on wine-tastings, weed strains, or feet pix. Sam Kestenbaum, Vulture, 2 Jan. 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 18 Jan. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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