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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obliques
plural
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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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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:
Better are her more oblique turns—realistic scenes with strange underpinnings.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026
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
The oblique late afternoon rays turned the ends of his hair a chocolate brown.
From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon
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
You won’t catch me crunching to sculpt my obliques – I’m happy just being abnormal.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 18, 2022
“Hopefully it’s a short stint, but obliques are tricky,” manager Kevin Cash said.
From Seattle Times ● May 8, 2019
The remainder of the squad, or twos, obliques to the right and halts on line with the leading file or files.
From The Plattsburg Manual A Handbook for Military Training by Olin Oglesby Ellis
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 C. Allan Gilbert
The lawyers and henchmen obliqued off to the sides.
From Space Viking by H. Beam Piper
The 21st seemed to have obliqued to the left of the 51st.
From Personal Recollections of the Civil War By One Who Took Part in It as a Private Soldier in the 21st Volunteer Regiment of Infantry from Massachusetts by James Madison Stone
On observing this convergence of his silent and persevering pursuers, Costal suddenly obliqued to the right.
From The Tiger Hunter by Mayne Reid
The instant his back was turned, the old man obliqued crabwise to the side of the road.
From McClure's Magazine, Vol. 31, No. 1, May 1908 by Various
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 James A. (James Alfred) Moss
Half faced to front after obliquing, Forward, March.
From Military Instructors Manual by Oliver Schoonmaker
If at half step or mark time while obliquing, Oblique, March.
From Military Instructors Manual by Oliver Schoonmaker
When my brigade had moved far around upon the left, and had taken position, obliquing toward the enemy's rear, it suddenly opened.
From History of Morgan's Cavalry by Basil Wilson Duke
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.
