EN

Synonyms for askance

  • adjective
  • adverb

Most common

sideways oblique askew squint-eyed sidelong non-orthogonal

Synonyms by meaning

Adjective

1. Turned to the side — turned to the side, especially of the eyes

askew, sideways, awry, oblique, aslant formal dated

2. Sidelong

sidelong, squint-eyed, squint, squinty, askant dated

Other

non-orthogonal

Adverb

1. Skeptically — of a glance or look, with disapproval, skepticism, or suspicion

skeptically US, sceptically UK, suspiciously

Other

asquint, sidewise

Definitions

  1. adj. 1

    Turned to the side, especially of the eyes.

  2. adv. 1

    Of a glance or look: with disapproval, skepticism, or suspicion.

    The beggar asked for change, but the haughty woman only looked at him askance.

Related words

Phrases
look askance

Example sentences

  • sideways Slippery slugs slithered sideways down the slope.
  • askew The picture is askew. Could you straighten it again?
  • sidelong She gave him a sidelong glance all throughout the lecture.

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
askancerising
sidewaysrising
obliquefalling
askewrising
sidelongrising

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

4 letters
awry2
5 letters
askew2
6 letters
squint1, aslant, askant
7 letters
oblique2, squinty, asquint
8 letters
sideways2, sidelong, sidewise2
11 letters
skeptically4, sceptically
12 letters
suspiciously4

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (awry2 = 2 syllables).