off-kilter

adjective

ˈȯf-ˈkil-tər How to pronounce off-kilter (audio)
Definition of off-kilternext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of off-kilter With Brown, Amos makes twinkly, off-kilter experimental songs that sometimes sound as though they’re being piped out of a cursed music box. — Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026 Nick Woltemade followed, joining Juventus on loan on Tuesday, bringing a temporary end to a costly, stylistic mismatch which contributed to throwing Eddie Howe’s Newcastle off-kilter. — George Caulkin, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026 But a 17-point win masked how off-kilter and sloppy the offense looked against the overmatched Huskies. — John Talty, Vanity Fair, 2 Sep. 2026 Scott said of his guidance for production designer Chris Seavers, who was tasked with creating the creepy airport where off-kilter flight attendant Allison Janney lures the film’s heroes to potential doom. — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for off-kilter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for off-kilter
  1. bizarre
  2. uneven
  3. strange
  4. tilted
  5. weird
  6. crooked
  7. funny
  8. oblique
Adjective
  • Creating a licensing body is not a bizarre idea in a world where the FAA determines the airworthiness of planes and banks must pass stress tests to operate.
    — Diane Brady, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2026
  • From bizarre medical tests to a mass phobia of beans, here are 14 surprising facts that reveal just how inventive, eccentric, and fascinating the ancient Greeks really were.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of bizarre
Adjective
  • In addition, the distribution of that wealth is uneven as certain households own substantial property and investment portfolios while others don’t.
    — Joshua Hong, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Mud is a dynamic if uneven vehicle for Wolf, a vocalist with a showman’s need for climax.
    — Enzo Escober, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of uneven
Adjective
  • The small army at Kostabi World turned out images of featureless characters moving through strange, otherworldly scenes, caught between intimacy, alienation, and the discomfort of contemporary life.
    — Robb Report, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The first bit of growth might be especially strange-looking, says Sutcliffe.
    — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of strange
Adjective
  • The tilted surfaces were mostly chosen to mimic raindrops in the real world.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026
  • But analysts say risks to oil prices remain tilted to the upside.
    — , CNBC, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of tilted
Adjective
  • One of those weird lizard things from NBC’s very similar Surface, a 2005 drama mostly, if barely, remembered by television critics?
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The matches were entertaining, in a weird, raw kind of way—slapstick football.
    — Vanda Mayer, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of weird
Adjective
  • Others convicted in relation to the robbery included Brian Reader, a career criminal who was involved in other high-profile robberies before and after Brink’s-Mat, crooked solicitor Michael Relton, and McAvoy’s wife, Kathleen.
    — Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026
  • For now, the crooked finger stays, and so does the jumper that comes with it.
    — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of crooked
Adjective
  • And Widow’s Bay was, of course, very successful at alternating between scary and funny bits.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Ashton was charming, funny, ridiculously handsome, and fascinated by all things tech.
    — Chuck Lorre, Vanity Fair, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of funny
Adjective
  • Reaves missed those games — and his shot at his first All-NBA and All-Star selections — because of right groin soreness in November, a left calf strain in December and January, and a left oblique strain in April.
    — Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The San Francisco 49ers are unsure when Mike Evans will be back after leaving Sunday’s win over the Arizona Cardinals with what Kyle Shanahan said is a rib or oblique injury.
    — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of oblique

Browse Nearby Words

off-key
off-kilter
off-limits
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Cite this Entry

“Off-kilter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/off-kilter. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

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