kilter

noun

kil·​ter ˈkil-tər How to pronounce kilter (audio)
: proper or usual state or condition : order
out of kilter

Examples of kilter in a Sentence

since I dropped my food processor, it's been all out of kilter
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Marcia Marcus, a painter who spent decades making off-kilter portraits of herself and others in relative obscurity, only to gain positive notice during her final years, died at 97 on Thursday. Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 31 Mar. 2025 Hidden in plain sight, amidst the off-kilter impressionism and untraditional arrangements, is the band’s innate sense of melody. Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 26 Mar. 2025 With recent cuts to the agency, and further staff reductions potentially looming, some fear this balance will be knocked off kilter and that public safety will suffer. Andrew Freedman, Axios, 20 Mar. 2025 The Silver State welcomes the bizarre, celebrates the off-kilter, and nurtures the outrageous—from the sea-level sand beaches of the Colorado River to the towering peaks of Great Basin National Park. Graham Averill, Outside Online, 3 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for kilter

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1628, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of kilter was in 1628

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Kilter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kilter. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

kilter

noun
kil·​ter ˈkil-tər How to pronounce kilter (audio)
: proper condition
the TV is out of kilter

More from Merriam-Webster on kilter

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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