Standard Lemma guide

oblique

adj · noun · verb · 20 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /əˈbliːk/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -iːk
  • US: /oʊˈbliːk/
  • General-American: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • /ɑbˈlaɪk/ US military command
  • obsolete: /ɒbˈlaɪk/
  • CMU ARPABET: AH0 B L IY1 K Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

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

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Italic fonts are sometimes described as oblique in typographic terminology.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: aslant, askew, slanting, inclined

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Not straightforward; indirect; by implication; (sometimes even) obscure, ambiguous, or confusing.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The email from HR obliquely informed her that some complaints about her had been received.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Disingenuous; underhand; morally corrupt.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adj

Meaning 4

Not direct in descent; not following the line of father and son; collateral.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

adj

Meaning 5

Having the base of the blade asymmetrical, with one side lower than the other.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: biology, botany, natural-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

adj

Meaning 6

Growing at an angle that is neither vertical nor horizontal.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: biology, botany, natural-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

adj

Meaning 7

Pertaining to the oblique case (non-nominative).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: grammar, human-sciences, linguistics, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

adj

Meaning 8

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.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: grammar, human-sciences, linguistics, sciences

Examples

  • They found out obliquely that she had heard from HR about the comments and was taking some time to absorb the sting of an implied reprimand.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

adj

Meaning 9

Employing oblique motion, motion or progression in which one part (voice) stays on the same note while another ascends or descends.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

noun

Meaning 10

An oblique line.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: geometry, mathematics, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

11

noun

Meaning 11

Synonym of slash ⟨/⟩.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: media, publishing, typography

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: slash

Antonyms: none provided

12

noun

Meaning 12

The oblique case.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: grammar, human-sciences, linguistics, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

13

noun

Meaning 13

The musculus obliquus externus abdominis or also obliquus internus abdominis.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: exercise, hobbies, lifestyle, sports

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

14

verb

Meaning 14

To deviate from a perpendicular line; to become askew.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

15

verb

Meaning 15

To march in a direction oblique to the line of the column or platoon; — formerly accomplished by oblique steps, now by direct steps, the men half-facing either to the right or left.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: government, military, politics, war

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

16

verb

Meaning 16

To slant (text, etc.) at an angle.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

17

adjective

Meaning 17

slanting or inclined in direction or course or position--neither parallel nor perpendicular nor right-angled

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the oblique rays of the winter sun
  • acute and obtuse angles are oblique angles
  • the axis of an oblique cone is not perpendicular to its base

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: parallel, perpendicular

18

adjective satellite

Meaning 18

indirect in departing from the accepted or proper way; misleading

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • used devious means to achieve success
  • gave oblique answers to direct questions
  • oblique political maneuvers

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: devious

Antonyms: none provided

19

noun

Meaning 19

a diagonally arranged abdominal muscle on either side of the torso

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: external oblique muscle, musculus obliquus externus abdominis, abdominal external oblique muscle

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: abdominal, abdominal muscle, ab

20

noun

Meaning 20

any grammatical case other than the nominative

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: oblique case

Antonyms: nominative

Broader terms: case, grammatical case

Narrower terms: accusative, accusative case, objective case, dative, dative case, genitive, genitive case, possessive, possessive case, vocative, vocative case, ablative, ablative case

History

Etymology

From Middle French oblique, from Latin oblīquus (also spelled oblīcus) (“slanting, sideways, indirect, envious”).

Across languages

Translations

87 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Armenian: շեղ (šeġ) — not erect or perpendicular
  • Bulgarian: кос (kos) — not erect or perpendicular
  • Bulgarian: наклонен (naklonen) — not erect or perpendicular
  • Catalan: oblic — not erect or perpendicular
  • Chinese Mandarin: 斜 — not erect or perpendicular
  • Chinese Mandarin: 偏斜 (piānxié) — not erect or perpendicular
  • Czech: šikmý — not erect or perpendicular
  • Czech: křivý — not erect or perpendicular
  • Czech: zkosený — not erect or perpendicular
  • Czech: kosý — not erect or perpendicular
  • Dutch: schuin — not erect or perpendicular
  • Esperanto: oblikva — not erect or perpendicular
  • Finnish: vino — not erect or perpendicular
  • French: oblique — not erect or perpendicular
  • German: schräg — not erect or perpendicular
  • German: schief — not erect or perpendicular
  • German: oblique — not erect or perpendicular
  • Ancient Greek: δοχμός (dokhmós) — not erect or perpendicular
  • Ancient Greek: λοξός (loxós) — not erect or perpendicular
  • Hungarian: ferde — not erect or perpendicular
  • Hungarian: rézsútos — not erect or perpendicular
  • Hungarian: dőlt — not erect or perpendicular
  • Hungarian: döntött — not erect or perpendicular
  • Italian: obliquo — not erect or perpendicular
  • Latin: oblīquus — not erect or perpendicular
  • Māori: hōtiu — not erect or perpendicular
  • Māori: kōnana — not erect or perpendicular
  • Māori: tītaha — not erect or perpendicular
  • Māori: hāhā — not erect or perpendicular
  • Norwegian Bokmål: skjev — not erect or perpendicular
  • Norwegian Bokmål: skeiv — not erect or perpendicular
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: skrå — not erect or perpendicular
  • Persian: اریب (orib) — not erect or perpendicular
  • Plautdietsch: scheef (nds) — not erect or perpendicular
  • Portuguese: oblíquo — not erect or perpendicular
  • Russian: косо́й (kosój) — not erect or perpendicular
  • Russian: накло́нный (naklónnyj) — not erect or perpendicular
  • Russian: пока́тый (pokátyj) — not erect or perpendicular
  • Russian: ско́шенный (skóšennyj) — not erect or perpendicular
  • Sanskrit: जिह्म (jihma) — not erect or perpendicular
  • Slovak: šikmý — not erect or perpendicular
  • Slovak: skosený — not erect or perpendicular
  • Slovak: naklonený — not erect or perpendicular
  • Spanish: oblicuo — not erect or perpendicular
  • Spanish: enviajado — not erect or perpendicular
  • Swedish: skev — not erect or perpendicular
  • Swedish: sned — not erect or perpendicular
  • Swedish: snedställd — not erect or perpendicular
  • Swedish: lutande — not erect or perpendicular
  • Tagalog: talibas — not erect or perpendicular
  • Thai: เฉ (chěe) — not erect or perpendicular
  • Turkish: eğik — not erect or perpendicular
  • Ukrainian: нахи́лений (naxýlenyj) — not erect or perpendicular
  • Ukrainian: похи́лий (poxýlyj) — not erect or perpendicular
  • Bulgarian: непряк (neprjak) — not straightforward; indirect; obscure; hence, disingenuous; underhand; perverse; sinister
  • Bulgarian: заобиколен (zaobikolen) — not straightforward; indirect; obscure; hence, disingenuous; underhand; perverse; sinister
  • Catalan: oblic — not straightforward; indirect; obscure; hence, disingenuous; underhand; perverse; sinister
  • Czech: nepřímý — not straightforward; indirect; obscure; hence, disingenuous; underhand; perverse; sinister
  • Czech: kosý — not straightforward; indirect; obscure; hence, disingenuous; underhand; perverse; sinister
  • Czech: zvrhlý — not straightforward; indirect; obscure; hence, disingenuous; underhand; perverse; sinister
  • Dutch: indirect — not straightforward; indirect; obscure; hence, disingenuous; underhand; perverse; sinister
  • Finnish: epäsuora — not straightforward; indirect; obscure; hence, disingenuous; underhand; perverse; sinister
  • Finnish: kiero — not straightforward; indirect; obscure; hence, disingenuous; underhand; perverse; sinister
  • Finnish: hämäräperäinen — not straightforward; indirect; obscure; hence, disingenuous; underhand; perverse; sinister
  • Ancient Greek: λοξός (loxós) — not straightforward; indirect; obscure; hence, disingenuous; underhand; perverse; sinister
  • Hungarian: homályos — not straightforward; indirect; obscure; hence, disingenuous; underhand; perverse; sinister
  • Hungarian: burkolt — not straightforward; indirect; obscure; hence, disingenuous; underhand; perverse; sinister
  • Hungarian: közvetett — not straightforward; indirect; obscure; hence, disingenuous; underhand; perverse; sinister
  • Hungarian: sanda — not straightforward; indirect; obscure; hence, disingenuous; underhand; perverse; sinister
  • Hungarian: alattomos — not straightforward; indirect; obscure; hence, disingenuous; underhand; perverse; sinister
  • Italian: obliquo — not straightforward; indirect; obscure; hence, disingenuous; underhand; perverse; sinister
  • Russian: око́льный (okólʹnyj) — not straightforward; indirect; obscure; hence, disingenuous; underhand; perverse; sinister
  • Russian: ко́свенный (kósvennyj) — not straightforward; indirect; obscure; hence, disingenuous; underhand; perverse; sinister
  • Russian: непрямо́й (neprjamój) — not straightforward; indirect; obscure; hence, disingenuous; underhand; perverse; sinister
  • Slovak: krivýnepriamy — not straightforward; indirect; obscure; hence, disingenuous; underhand; perverse; sinister
  • Slovak: pokrivený — not straightforward; indirect; obscure; hence, disingenuous; underhand; perverse; sinister
  • Spanish: oblicuo — not straightforward; indirect; obscure; hence, disingenuous; underhand; perverse; sinister
  • Swedish: förtäckt — not straightforward; indirect; obscure; hence, disingenuous; underhand; perverse; sinister
  • Swedish: indirekt — not straightforward; indirect; obscure; hence, disingenuous; underhand; perverse; sinister
  • Swedish: undvikande — not straightforward; indirect; obscure; hence, disingenuous; underhand; perverse; sinister
  • Bulgarian: непряк (neprjak) — not direct in descent; not following the line of father and son; collateral
  • Czech: nepřímý — not direct in descent; not following the line of father and son; collateral
  • Hungarian: oldalági — not direct in descent; not following the line of father and son; collateral
  • Russian: ко́свенный (kósvennyj) — not direct in descent; not following the line of father and son; collateral
  • Russian: непрямо́й (neprjamój) — not direct in descent; not following the line of father and son; collateral
  • Slovak: nepriamy — not direct in descent; not following the line of father and son; collateral
  • Hungarian: függő — grammar: pertaining to the oblique case (non-nominative)
Real reading context

oblique in complete knowledge articles

Wu-style tai chi fast form Arts & music · Developing · 15 uses