off-kilter
Americanadjective
-
not exactly straight or balanced; askew; uneven.
off-kilter paintings on every wall.
-
not completely well; somewhat ill.
still off-kilter two weeks after the flu.
-
unusual or eccentric; unconventional.
short stories with off-kilter endings.
Etymology
Origin of off-kilter
First recorded in 1925–30; off ( def. ) + kilter ( def. )
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.
If asked, I probably would have told you I was feeling a little tired, wired, or off-kilter, so none of those readings were all that revelatory.
From Slate ● Oct. 9, 2026
Its off-kilter tone and genuinely disturbing climax made it a favourite for horror fans.
From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2026
Of the many celebratory publications, “Marilyn and Her Books” stands out for the success of its off-kilter approach.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026
The Dadaist piece is every bit as off-kilter and fascinating as the Talking Heads song that inspired its title.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 2, 2026
A second table, covered with books and papers and off-kilter clay pots—baked and painted, but not glazed—squeezed itself between the bed foot and the closet door.
From "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
