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
While López-Owens refers obliquely to Sweeney Bell, the clerk's other Democratic challenger attacks directly.
—
Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 26 Mar. 2026
On publication of the manuscript, the ghostwriter is typically named, albeit obliquely – perhaps identified as a friend or consultant in the acknowledgments section.
—Emily Hodgson Anderson, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2026
The new president trod carefully, acknowledging only obliquely the legal end of the transatlantic slave trade in 1808.
—Regina E. Mason, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2026
Official Hollywood posters, especially in the Reagan years, were spurned in favor of surreal homegrown imagery, most of it only obliquely connected to the movies in question.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2026
In related news, drummer Josh Freese recently commented obliquely on his short stint as a Foo Fighter.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2026
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
Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 26 Mar. 2026
On publication of the manuscript, the ghostwriter is typically named, albeit obliquely – perhaps identified as a friend or consultant in the acknowledgments section.
—Emily Hodgson Anderson, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2026
The new president trod carefully, acknowledging only obliquely the legal end of the transatlantic slave trade in 1808.
—Regina E. Mason, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2026
Official Hollywood posters, especially in the Reagan years, were spurned in favor of surreal homegrown imagery, most of it only obliquely connected to the movies in question.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2026
In related news, drummer Josh Freese recently commented obliquely on his short stint as a Foo Fighter.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obliquely
diagonally
Adverb
-
In chess, which has a far smaller grid, a rook can move only horizontally and a bishop only diagonally, but Go pieces can be placed on any open space.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Rose Byrne stunned in a strapless black mermaid Dior gown that featured delicate embroidered floral appliqués with shimmering beadwork running diagonally across the bodice and down the skirt, which flowed into a train.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obliquely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obliquely. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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