as in diagonally
in a line or direction running from corner to corner
the photographer has framed the shot so that the river runs obliquely through it, creating a great sense of depth for the viewer
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Recent Examples of obliquely
That’s what Lenny, a biopic of comedian Lenny Bruce, is obliquely about.
—
Lili Anolik, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
If its absence speaks obliquely to the Dadaist disregard for aesthetic permanence, its iconography—and its iconoclastic mordancy—echoes throughout his entire corpus.
—Ara H. Merjian, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
Chinese President Xi Jinping also weighed in Wednesday, albeit obliquely, making a brief reference to the Taiwan situation in an annual New Year’s Eve speech to the nation.
—Ted Anthony, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2025
The narrator mentions him obliquely, as the husband of Agnes Hathaway and the father to two daughters and a son, the titular Hamnet.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 15 Dec. 2025
Co-written by Topchugul Shaidullayeva, the delicate drama channels a kind of unfussy and serene clarity that obliquely brings to mind the films of Edward Yang and Yasujiro Ozu.
—Tomris Laffly, Variety, 23 Nov. 2025
Whereas the play only obliquely references the character’s successful new novel, this version presents Eileen’s manuscript — co-written with her mousy lover Thea (Imogen Potts), a former schoolmate of Hedda’s — as a revelatory treatise on the future of human sexuality.
—Abby Monteil, Them., 28 Oct. 2025
But Sage also shows up later in the episode to obliquely discuss their plans for Marie.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025
Lili Anolik, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
If its absence speaks obliquely to the Dadaist disregard for aesthetic permanence, its iconography—and its iconoclastic mordancy—echoes throughout his entire corpus.
—Ara H. Merjian, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026
Chinese President Xi Jinping also weighed in Wednesday, albeit obliquely, making a brief reference to the Taiwan situation in an annual New Year’s Eve speech to the nation.
—Ted Anthony, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2025
The narrator mentions him obliquely, as the husband of Agnes Hathaway and the father to two daughters and a son, the titular Hamnet.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 15 Dec. 2025
Co-written by Topchugul Shaidullayeva, the delicate drama channels a kind of unfussy and serene clarity that obliquely brings to mind the films of Edward Yang and Yasujiro Ozu.
—Tomris Laffly, Variety, 23 Nov. 2025
Whereas the play only obliquely references the character’s successful new novel, this version presents Eileen’s manuscript — co-written with her mousy lover Thea (Imogen Potts), a former schoolmate of Hedda’s — as a revelatory treatise on the future of human sexuality.
—Abby Monteil, Them., 28 Oct. 2025
But Sage also shows up later in the episode to obliquely discuss their plans for Marie.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obliquely
diagonally
Adverb
-
In the footage, Victoria steps out diagonally opposite of Brooklyn, her back slightly turned toward him.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
21 Jan. 2026
-
These screens are usually 4-5 inches measured diagonally.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obliquely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obliquely. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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