off-kilter

American

[awf-kil-ter, of‐] / ˈɔfˈkɪl tər, ˈɒf‐ /

adjective

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.

He is one of several out-of-context celebrities who help bolster the off-kilter atmosphere by popping in unexpectedly: Isaac Mizrahi, David Mamet and Penn Jillette are among the others.

From The Wall Street Journal

Unlike most modern pop albums, it's the work of just three people, with Rae and her collaborators Elvira Anderfjärd and Luka Kloser establishing a stylish, spacey and occasionally off-kilter sonic palette all of their own.

From BBC

With routines off-kilter and excitement running high squabbles can break out between siblings as well as cousins or friends they may not see regularly.

From BBC

The longstanding relationship between stocks and bonds has been off-kilter ever since.

From MarketWatch

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023