skew

1 of 3

verb

ˈskyü 

skewed; skewing; skews

intransitive verb

1

: to take an oblique course

2

: to look askance

transitive verb

1

: to make, set, or cut on the skew

2

: to distort especially from a true value or symmetrical form

skew

2 of 3

adjective

1

: set, placed, or running obliquely : slanting

2

: more developed on one side or in one direction than another : not symmetrical

skew

3 of 3

noun

: a deviation from a straight line : slant

Examples of skew in a Sentence

Verb

They were accused of skewing the facts to fit their theory.

He accused them of skewing the rules in their favor.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Many of them are Twitter refugees who skew left, but that’s not all the app has to offer. —Ben Smith, semafor.com, 10 Apr. 2026

Matchmaking may be old-school, but these days its clientele is skewing younger and more diverse. —Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 9 Apr. 2026

Adjective

One of the most desirable characteristics of the U.S. streaming platforms is how much younger their audiences skew when compared to TV viewers. —Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 1 Apr. 2026

Portions run generous and flavors skew crowd-pleasing, the kind of lineup designed to keep everyone fed, happy, and firmly on property. —Kinsey Gidick, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2026

Noun

Be Creative With Paint No matter which way your personal palette skews, using paint in creative ways is a great and inexpensive way to dress up small bedrooms and beyond. —Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2026

Even the attractions here skew mellow, from the Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center to the Navarre Beach Fishing Pier, the longest on the Gulf, where anglers cast lines as pelicans glide overhead. —Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, to escape, run obliquely, from Anglo-French *eskiuer, eschiver to escape, avoid — more at eschew

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Adjective

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1688, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing skew

• skew curve
• skew distribution
• skew lines
• skew-whiff

Rhymes for skew

• blew
• blue
• boo
• brew
• chew
• chou
• clue
• coo
• coup
• crew
• cue
• dew

Kids Definition

skew

verb

ˈskyü

1

: to take a slanting course : move or turn aside : swerve

2

: to distort from a true value or symmetrical form

skewed the facts to fit their theory