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

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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
  • But at the center of this story is a man named Michael Organ who turns out to be a bizarre, seemingly dangerous conman.
    — Terrence O'Brien, The Verge, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Aside from spreading fear and anxiety through the agricultural labor force — which might be the point, if the hope is many will self-deport — the surge is having some other bizarre and probably unintended consequences.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of bizarre
Adjective
  • Rising case rates in women under 50, new federal rules on breast density notification and the uneven rollout of 3D mammography are reshaping when and how women get screened.
    — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Grass, uneven ground, tiny puddles, and random objects can become major obstacles when the machine is barely taller than them.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of uneven
Adjective
  • That sentence would have sounded like insanity a few decades ago, but in the strange world of Hollywood in the 2020s, weirder might really be better.
    — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Fielder is a refreshingly candid guide through this strange land.
    — David Mack, CNN Money, 16 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
  • Undoubtedly, a stack of crazy, low-IQ and weird lies will follow.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The Sagittarius Moon opposes Uranus, and a schedule change, weird mood, or surprise request could throw off your rhythm.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 14 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
  • Underneath the celebrity and the tabloid headlines is someone who’s vulnerable, funny and desperately trying to hold her life together.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The book’s humor is sharp and merciless, akin to that of a standup comedy show, and yet the things described are far from funny.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of funny
Adjective
  • At best, the invitation to become a white-leader draws an oblique link between white paint and the discourse of racial discrimination.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026
  • 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
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 20 Oct. 2026.

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