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:
The elliptical and oblique aspects are made to be dissected by chat groups; meme-worthy images get endlessly recycled.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026
But with the perspective of 25 years, what’s lingered for the most part aren’t the most literal depictions of the day, but oblique dramas that capture something more subtle: the free-floating anxiety of a nightmare.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
Mostly, though, the film is oblique commentary on the kinds of issues the columnists are always writing about—a perceived loss of societal trust, demonization of out-groups, and increased geographical sorting by ideology.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 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
All this came through in small, oblique spurts in his conversation.
From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck
The obliques are muscles that span from the ribs to the pelvis and help the body’s ability to bend and rotate.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2023
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 never know with obliques but I don’t think it’s as bad as we thought it would be,” manager Charlie Montoyo said before the Blue Jays concluded a four-game series at Yankee Stadium.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 14, 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
All except pivot man execute two right obliques.
From Military Instructors Manual by Oliver Schoonmaker
That gallant soldier threw his men on the exposed flank of the column which had obliqued, bent to the right.
From The Eagle of the Empire A Story of Waterloo by Cyrus Townsend Brady
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
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
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
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
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 Alonzo Kimball
Half faced to front after obliquing, Forward, 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
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