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
Relevance
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
A lot of the physicality came from learning what the puppet was good at, which was kind of always being a little off-kilter.
—
Emma Forgione, Vulture, 31 Mar. 2026
With the song in expert hands, Dave Meyer, the commercial’s director, asked to add other off-kilter elements, including a plotline about Nickelback and Megan stealing new Cheetos from a vault and loading them on to a giant truck that would also serve as their escape vehicle.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 26 Mar. 2026
Later in the quarter, with the Lakers trailing 109-107, Rui Hachimura collected an off-kilter pass from Doncic with one hand.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 19 Mar. 2026
Everything about that show was surreal and off-kilter.
—Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for off-kilter
Emma Forgione, Vulture, 31 Mar. 2026
With the song in expert hands, Dave Meyer, the commercial’s director, asked to add other off-kilter elements, including a plotline about Nickelback and Megan stealing new Cheetos from a vault and loading them on to a giant truck that would also serve as their escape vehicle.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 26 Mar. 2026
Later in the quarter, with the Lakers trailing 109-107, Rui Hachimura collected an off-kilter pass from Doncic with one hand.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 19 Mar. 2026
Everything about that show was surreal and off-kilter.
—Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for off-kilter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for off-kilter
Adjective
-
Upset over a bizarre technical foul in Game 2, Booker unloaded on the refs, particularly James Williams.—
Doug Haller,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The New York Giants had a completely bizarre draft on Thursday – one that even left star wide receiver Malik Nabers visibly frustrated during his own simulcast with Green Bay Packers linebacker Micah Parsons.—
Ryan Gaydos OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
And the uneven availability cost him a chance to fully adjust to his new role within the organization.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Heavy rain can wash away grass seed and cause uneven growth or bare spots in your lawn.—
Lee Wallender,
The Spruce,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The truck had been at the head of a column of seven rescue vehicles, all of which had received clearance from the tower to cross Runway 4 at Taxiway D and head toward a United Airlines flight that was evacuating due to a strange odor onboard.—
Evan Simko-Bednarski,
New York Daily News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
On World Rhythms, Lockwood trusts the listener to hear the arc of its noises, to trace their emergence and disappearance, their strange, seductive confluence.—
Joshua Minsoo Kim,
Pitchfork,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
The Escalade also offers a large head up display and a tilted control panel to provide quick access to climate and other functions.—
Scotty Reiss,
Parents,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Some weird ground balls, a bounce over (first baseman Gavin) Sheets’ head.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Cabdrivers sometimes call it the Hinckley Hilton—a weird local homage to the shooter, John Hinckley, Jr.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The crooked lawyer, played by Bridget Regan, on ABC's police procedural series, died in the penultimate episode of Season 8 in a dramatic cliffhanger ahead of next week's finale.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The willow out front, where the children used to play, was thick and crooked with age.—
Lizzie Johnson,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This would be much funnier if Rimura were, indeed, simply a slime.—
Beatrice Loayza,
Variety,
1 May 2026
-
Just being more confident in my choice of what is funny and what’s not.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Just three weeks after his oblique injury, Reaves was questionable for Games 3 and 4.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Little did the Lakers know that Dončić (hamstring) and Reaves (oblique) would go down heading into the playoffs, but their backcourt backups, Smart and Kennard, had everything to do with their ability to jump out to a 3-0 series lead against Houston (3-1 after Sunday night’s loss).—
Sam Amick,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Off-kilter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/off-kilter. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
