🌀 Indirect or unclear 📐 Slanting or angled 💪 A slanting muscle

obliquus

9.2

Saying something in a roundabout way to avoid being direct

adjective
/əˈblɪk.wəs/

: evasivo

The politician gave an obliquus answer instead of addressing the question directly.

Examples

His apology was oddly obliquus, avoiding direct responsibility for the mistake.
Her explanation was so obliquus that no one understood her true intentions.
His explanation was quite obliquus and hard to follow.
She gave an obliquus answer to avoid the question.
The politician gave an obliquus answer instead of addressing the question directly.
His apology was oddly obliquus, avoiding direct responsibility for the mistake.
Her explanation was so obliquus that no one understood her true intentions.

Synonyms

evasive

vsobliquus

25 7.3

Not giving a direct answer to hide the truth or avoid commitment

is expressed in a roundabout way not only to dodge direct answers

indirect

vsobliquus

14 4.3

Saying or doing something without being clear

is phrased in a roundabout way to avoid clear statements

oblique

vsobliquus

5 7.4

Said or done in a not direct way to avoid telling the truth

is phrased in a roundabout way rather than to intentionally deceive

weasel-worded

vsobliquus

Literature

9.6

Unclear words that avoid saying something directly

is expressed in a roundabout way but not only by vague wording

Compounds

musculus obliquus externus abdominis

Specialized

7.9

A flat muscle on the outside of the belly that helps twist the body and tighten the stomach area

How Direct

direct

574 1.0

obliquus

9.2

indirect

6 3.5

evasive

25 7.3

Surface Forms

obliquus positive

Etymology

Obliquus comes from the Latin word obliquus, which means 'slanting' or 'sideways', and it shares the same root as the English word oblique. So an obliquus remark goes to the side of the main point and avoids a direct answer.