oblique
Americanadjective
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neither perpendicular nor parallel to a given line or surface; slanting; sloping.
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(of a solid) not having the axis perpendicular to the plane of the base.
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diverging from a given straight line or course.
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not straight or direct, as a course.
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indirectly stated or expressed; not straightforward.
oblique remarks about the candidate's honesty.
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indirectly aimed at or reached, as ends or results; deviously achieved.
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morally, ethically, or mentally wrong; underhand; perverse.
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Typography. (of a letter) slanting toward the right, as a form of sans-serif, gothic, or square-serif type.
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Rhetoric. indirect (applied to discourse in which the original words of a speaker or writer are assimilated to the language of the reporter).
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Anatomy. pertaining to muscles running obliquely in the body as opposed to those running transversely or longitudinally.
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Botany. having unequal sides, as a leaf.
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Grammar. noting or pertaining to any case of noun inflection except nominative and vocative.
Latin genitive, dative, accusative, and ablative cases are said to be oblique.
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Drafting. designating a method of projection oblique projection in which a three-dimensional object is represented by a drawing oblique drawing in which the face, usually parallel to the picture plane, is represented in accurate or exact proportion, and all other faces are shown at any convenient angle other than 90°.
adverb
verb (used without object)
noun
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something that is oblique.
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Grammar. an oblique case.
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Anatomy. any of several oblique muscles, especially in the walls of the abdomen.
adjective
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at an angle; slanting; sloping
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geometry
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(of lines, planes, etc) neither perpendicular nor parallel to one another or to another line, plane, etc
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not related to or containing a right angle
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indirect or evasive
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grammar denoting any case of nouns, pronouns, etc, other than the nominative and vocative
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biology having asymmetrical sides or planes
an oblique leaf
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(of a map projection) constituting a type of zenithal projection in which the plane of projection is tangential to the earth's surface at some point between the equator and the poles
noun
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something oblique, esp a line
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another name for solidus
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nautical the act of changing course by less than 90°
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an aerial photograph taken at an oblique angle
verb
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to take or have an oblique direction
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(of a military formation) to move forward at an angle
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of oblique
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English oblike, from Latin oblīquus “slanting,” of uncertain origin; perhaps ob- ob- + a second element perhaps akin to licinus “bent, turned upward” or līmus “askew, aslant” ( see also limb)
Explanation
If something is oblique, it has a slanting position or direction. In figurative use, oblique means indirect or purposely misleading. "What is two plus two?" "Fish!" as an answer is completely oblique. In math, this adjective refers to geometric lines or planes that are not parallel or perpendicular to a line or surface. A playground is positioned at an oblique angle to the ground. By correcting the clerk's "Mrs." with "That's Ms. now," the woman made an oblique reference to her change in marital status.
Vocabulary lists containing oblique
List 6
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100 SAT words Beginning with "O"
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Achievement First 8th Grade IA 1 Words
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Though many critics and historians have tried, it’s impossible to get to the true root of a work as oblique as “Possession.”
From Salon ● Jul. 17, 2026
Some of the content is oblique -- vendors often post images of animals or parts for sale without any price or explanation.
From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026
He missed the last five regular-season games with the oblique injury suffered on April 2 at Oklahoma City and the first four first-round playoff games against the Rockets.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026
Reaves, sigh, has clearly been unable to overcome his oblique injury and playoff demons.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 10, 2026
He had apologized to me many times in many ways before, but his apologies had always been oblique, “Eat with me, Dana. Sarah is cooking up something special.”
From "Kindred" by Octavia Butler
Tuesday, he said he felt much better, focusing on his core and obliques.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 10, 2026
For just $2,599, this sleek and sturdy item offers users plate-loaded core training in a seated position, and a swivel seat to easily transition to targeting your obliques.
From Slate ● Jun. 24, 2023
The culprits last season were his obliques and hamstring, but he’s also had quad and shoulder injuries over the years.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 22, 2022
“It’s weird how these obliques are; you just never know,” Martinez said of Suero, adding that the reliever is breathing fine.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 18, 2021
On the whole, then, it is proved that the obliques are extended on turning the eyes inwards, but shortened on turning the eyes outwards by means of their muscular action.
From Schweigger on Squint A Monograph by Dr. C. Schweigger by Schweigger, C.
The lawyers and henchmen obliqued off to the sides.
From Space Viking by Piper, H. Beam
Broke into column of companies to the left, changed direction to the right, obliqued to the left, moved forward and formed "front into line, faced to the rear."
From The Colored Cadet at West Point Autobiography of Lieut. Henry Ossian Flipper, first graduate of color from the U. S. Military Academy by Flipper, Henry Ossian
They were moving toward us, so we obliqued toward them, with our shadows cast long by the low sun.
From Pluck on the Long Trail Boy Scouts in the Rockies by Sabin, Edwin L. (Edwin Legrand)
The eyes, as already observed, obliqued strongly downwards.
From The Quadroon Adventures in the Far West by Reid, Mayne
They obliqued across the street, still running forward, and at their grandfather's gate Herbert turned in and sped toward the house.
From Gentle Julia by Gilbert, C. Allan
Half faced to front after obliquing, Forward, March.
From Military Instructors Manual by Schoonmaker, Oliver
If at half step or mark time while obliquing, Oblique, March.
From Military Instructors Manual by Schoonmaker, Oliver
If at halfstep or mark time while obliquing, the oblique march is resumed by the commands: 1.
From Manual of Military Training Second, Revised Edition by Moss, James A. (James Alfred)
They keep Canal, obliquing to that side of the way farthest from the balconies-- "To make room," cries Victorine, "to form line pritty soon off horses, in front those cannon'."
From Kincaid's Battery by Kimball, Alonzo
Then the three first sides of our square, the second and the third obliquing to the right and left fired.
From The Conscript A Story of the French war of 1813 by Erckmann-Chatrian
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
