# oblique

/əˈbɫik/ (US) · /əblˈiːk/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/oblique
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

not expressed in a direct way. You use this to describe a comment or a look that is indirect or hidden.

For teachers: indirect or not straightforward in expression; not explicit. Often describes communication that avoids addressing a subject directly.

## Examples

- She made an oblique reference to her past.
- The politician gave an oblique answer to the reporter's question, avoiding any specific promises.
- The author's oblique style requires the reader to look for meaning in the subtext rather than in the literal descriptions of the characters' actions.

## Usage notes

- Typically used to describe speech, writing, or glances. Often follows a linking verb or precedes the noun it modifies.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.