off-kilter

adjective

off-kil·​ter ˈȯf-ˈkil-tər How to pronounce off-kilter (audio)
Synonyms of off-kilternext
1
: not in perfect balance : a bit askew
off-kilter camera angles
His hat was slightly off-kilter.
2
: eccentric, unconventional
off-kilter characters
an off-kilter approach

Synonyms of off-kilter

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Examples of off-kilter in a Sentence

he's nice enough, but there's something a little off-kilter about him to me, the painting on the wall looks a little off-kilter
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
She’s spent the last few years wandering from one strange, off-kilter project to the next. — Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 3 Aug. 2026 Channel 5 is is known for its viral, off-kilter political coverage and for hosting controversial interviews with actor Shia LaBeouf and fitness influencer Clavicular. — Usa Today, USA Today, 27 July 2026 Tahan portrays Roger Quincy, an off-kilter man who doesn’t want to be defined by his past but can’t seem to stay stay away from it. — Denise Petski, Deadline, 23 July 2026 Charlie Tahan as Roger Quincy — An off-kilter man who doesn’t want to be defined by his past but can’t seem to stay stay away from it. — Joe Otterson, Variety, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for off-kilter

Word History

First Known Use

1929, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of off-kilter was in 1929

Rhymes for off-kilter

See All Rhymes for off-kilter

Browse Nearby Words

off-key
off-kilter
off-label
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Off-kilter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/off-kilter. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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