slant

1 of 2

verb

ˈslant 

slanted; slanting; slants

intransitive verb

1

: to take a diagonal course, direction, or path

2

: to turn or incline from a right line or a level : slope

transitive verb

1

: to give an oblique or sloping direction to

2

: to interpret or present in line with a special interest : angle

stories slanted toward youth

especially : to maliciously or dishonestly distort or falsify

slantingly

ˈslan-tiŋ-lē 

adverb

slant

2 of 2

noun

1

: a slanting direction, line, or plane : slope

2

a

: something that slants

b

: slash sense 4

c

: a football running play in which the ballcarrier runs obliquely toward the line of scrimmage

3

a

: a peculiar or personal point of view, attitude, or opinion

b

: a slanting view : glance

slant adjective

slantways

ˈslant-ˌwāz 

adverb

slantwise

ˈslant-ˌwīz 

adverb or adjective

slanty

ˈslan-tē 

adjective

Synonyms

Verb

• bend
• color
• cook
• distort
• falsify
• fudge
• garble
• misinterpret
• misrelate
• misrepresent
• misstate
• pervert
• twist
• warp

Noun

• cant
• diagonal
• grade
• gradient
• inclination
• incline
• lean
• pitch
• rake
• slope
• upgrade

Examples of slant in a Sentence

Verb

The sunlight slanted down through the leaves and branches of the trees.

She slanted her hat a little to the right.

They deliberately slanted the story to make themselves look good.

Noun

The computer keyboard is positioned at a slant so that typing is more comfortable for the wrists.

He sliced the carrots on a slant.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The slanting afternoon light lends his ascent a spooky, otherworldly glow. —Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2024

Hoskins said the city law is slanted toward tenants and should be more balanced. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2024

Noun

The Eagles started out slinging: Hurts up the seam to Grant Calcaterra for 22 yards; Hurts to Brown on a 7-yard slant; Hurts to DeVonta Smith for a 20-yard crosser. —Brooks Kubena, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024

On Green Bay’s second possession, Doubs caught an inside slant at the Seattle 5-yard line, then carried Riq Woolen and Julian Love into the endzone for a 13-yard touchdown. —Rob Reischel, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English slenten to fall obliquely, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Norwegian dialect slenta to slope, Old Norse sletta to throw carelessly

First Known Use

Verb

1644, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1655, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing slant

• slant height

Kids Definition

slant

1 of 2 verb

ˈslant 

1

: to turn or incline from a straight line or a level : slope

2

: to interpret or present according to a special viewpoint

slant

2 of 2 noun

1

: a slanting direction, line, or plane : slope

2

: something that slants

3

: a way of looking at something

get a new slant on the problem

slant adjective

slanty

ˈslant-ē 

adjective

Medical Definition

slant

noun

ˈslant 

: a culture medium solidified obliquely in a tube so as to increase the surface area

a blood-agar slant

compare stab sense 2a