1
as in bizarre
different from the ordinary in a way that causes curiosity or suspicion
he's nice enough, but there's something a little off-kilter about him
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in uneven
inclined or twisted to one side
to me, the painting on the wall looks a little off-kilter
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of off-kilter
Knats front-end their version with the words from a 1972 BBC documentary about Durham miners set to off-kilter melody, before balladic piano chords enter, and Cooper speaks a refrain based on the folk song.
—
Archie Forde, Pitchfork, 1 May 2026
The truths in her writing are as off-kilter as her singing.
—New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
If Lewis infuses a magnetic grit, Amber Gray's off-kilter take on Riff Raff only deepens the intrigue.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
Feeling a little confused, concerned, off-kilter, out of sorts?
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for off-kilter
Archie Forde, Pitchfork, 1 May 2026
The truths in her writing are as off-kilter as her singing.
—New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
If Lewis infuses a magnetic grit, Amber Gray's off-kilter take on Riff Raff only deepens the intrigue.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
Feeling a little confused, concerned, off-kilter, out of sorts?
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for off-kilter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for off-kilter
Adjective
-
That is pretty bizarre, given how fantastic both atmospheres have been throughout the playoffs.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
-
Rather than representing a bizarre evolutionary innovation unique to salamanders, regeneration may actually reflect an ancient trait that many vertebrates once possessed more broadly.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
These Italian suede sneakers feature a durable gum sole that’s perfect for a long day of walking without tripping over cobblestones or uneven pavement.—
Melony Forcier,
Travel + Leisure,
14 May 2026
-
Elsewhere, shopping was uneven.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
They were considered to have strange physical afflictions or weak mental attitudes, and some people with endocrine diseases were even dismissed as ‘freaks’ and heckled in circuses or locked away in institutions.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 May 2026
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So yes, there was a kind of resistance, because the film and the script could seem strange, and some people wanted to normalize it, to fit it into a genre.—
Roberto Prieto,
Variety,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
Citi maintained that risks to oil prices remain tilted to the upside, as Iran retains significant control over the timing and terms of any potential agreement to reopen the critical Strait of Hormuz energy route.—
Sam Meredith,Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
10 May 2026
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California Democrats got so good at gerrymandering that by the 1980s, the wildly tilted maps had become a political issue themselves.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Tom always found something deeper, more creative, more thoughtful, weird, fun & unique.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
18 May 2026
-
So that’s weird for Kickstarter.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
18 May 2026
Adjective
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Davis gave up the first run of the game, a 412-foot solo home run by Cameron Gurney in the top of the fourth inning, that was followed by a double that could have started a crooked inning for the Utes, but Davis picked off the runner at second base.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 May 2026
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Giuliani was elected New York’s mayor in 1993 after serving as one of the nation’s highest-profile prosecutors, taking on mobsters and crooked Wall Street traders.—
Michael R. Sisak,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
Jon Rahm is one of the best handful of golfers in the world, and, in media availability and his infrequent YouTube golf appearances, is thoughtful, funny and personable.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
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Semple’s writing is warm and absurdly funny but also occasionally devastating—as when, roughly midway through the book, Adora digresses into recalling her experiences writing for a comedy show in the 1990s.—
The Atlantic,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Reaves battled a midseason left calf strain, and missed the end of the regular season and most of the first round of the playoffs with a left oblique strain.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
18 May 2026
-
Brice Matthews made the majority of his minor-league starts at second, but has become the team’s everyday center fielder while Jake Meyers recovers from an oblique injury.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Off-kilter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/off-kilter. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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