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ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Oblique

/əˈbliːk/ · adjective

Meaning

Not erect or perpendicular; not parallel to, or at right angles from, the base..

Definitions by Sense

  1. Not erect or perpendicular; not parallel to, or at right angles from, the base.
  2. Not straightforward; indirect; by implication; (sometimes even) obscure, ambiguous, or confusing.
  3. Disingenuous; underhand; morally corrupt.
  4. Not direct in descent; not following the line of father and son; collateral.
  5. (botany, of leaves) Having the base of the blade asymmetrical, with one side lower than the other.
  6. (botany, of branches or roots) Growing at an angle that is neither vertical nor horizontal.
  7. (grammar) Pertaining to the oblique case (non-nominative).
  8. (grammar, of speech or narration) Indirect; employing the actual words of the speaker but as related by a third person, having the first person in pronoun and verb converted into the third person and adverbs of present time into the past, etc.

Example Sentences

Italic fonts are sometimes described as oblique in typographic terminology.
when it has a Direction oblique to that of the former Motion, it is either added to, or subtracted from the former Motion
The roadside section of the tramway is limited to 12 m.p.h., except over the oblique road crossings, where speed is restricted to 4 m.p.h., with a compulsory stop immediately before.
The email from HR obliquely informed her that some complaints about her had been received.
This mode of oblique research, where a more direct one is denied, we find to be the only one in our power.
For the love we bear our friends, / Tho nere so strongly grounded, / Hath in it certain oblique ends / If to the bottome sounded
Then would be closed the restless, oblique eye / That looks for evil, like a treacherous spy
His natural affection in a direct line was strong; in an oblique, but weak; for no man ever loved Children more, or a Brother less.

Synonyms for oblique

slashaslantaskewslantinginclinedcollateraldeviousindirectcrabwisecatty-cornercatercornersidewayscater-corneredcatty-corneredkitty-corneredkitty-cornernonparalleloblique casecatacornercata-corneredbiasdiagonal

Antonyms for oblique

directparallellinealperpendicularnominativenominative casesubject case

Related Words

sidewayscollateralindirectcrabwisebiasdeviousoblique casediagonalnonparallelcatercornerkitty-cornercater-corneredcatty-cornercatty-corneredkitty-corneredcata-corneredcatacornerskewslantedinclined

Word Forms

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

Practice and Learn More

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does oblique mean?

Oblique means Not erect or perpendicular; not parallel to, or at right angles from, the base..

What is a synonym for oblique?

Common synonyms include slash, aslant, askew, slanting.

What is the opposite of oblique?

Possible antonyms include direct, parallel, lineal, perpendicular.

How do you use oblique in a sentence?

Italic fonts are sometimes described as oblique in typographic terminology.

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.