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Definitions

catawampus

[kat-uh-wom-puhs] / ˌkæt əˈwɒm pəs /
ADJECTIVE
askew
Synonyms
STRONGEST
awry off-center
WEAK
askance askant aslant bent buckled cockeyed crookedly curved knotted lopsided oblique obliquely slanted slanting to one side topsy-turvey turned twisted yaw ways zigzag
ADJECTIVE
crooked
Synonyms
STRONGEST
curved curving devious errant gnarled meandering serpentine sinuous twisted twisting winding
STRONG
bowed contorted deformed deviating disfigured distorted hooked rambling skewed slanted spiral tilted warped zigzag
WEAK
agee anfractuous angular asymmetric awry circuitous cockeyed incurving indirect irregular kinky knurly lopsided misshapen not straight oblique out of shape roundabout screwy snaky topsy-turvy tortile tortuous uneven
Antonyms
STRONGEST
straight unbent untwisted
WEAK
good honest law-abiding lawful moral

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.

We’re trying to find the balance again because it’s felt catawampus for a minute.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2025

Zeus brings me to the beach shortly after passing a catawampus gazebo with several collapsed pilings.

From Washington Post • Mar. 14, 2019

One set of shutters was missing and the other hung lopsided, like the whole house had been smacked catawampus.

From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry

And then again they all seem to go catawampus.

From Anne's House of Dreams by Montgomery, L. M. (Lucy Maud)

I wouldn't hev done it, 'ceptin' D'rindy tuk ter talkin' six ways fur Sunday, an' she got me plumb catawampus, so ez I didn't rightly know what I wanted ter do myself.'

From The Prophet of the Great Smoky Mountains by Murfree, Mary Noailles

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.