Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having eyes that look in different directions: Describes a condition where the eyes are not aligned and point in different directions, often used synonymously with "cross-eyed" or having a strabismus.

Usage

• The term "skew-eyed" is a descriptive, often informal or colloquial adjective. It is used to describe a person's physical appearance regarding eye alignment.
• It typically functions as a predicate adjective (following a linking verb like "be" or "look") or as an attributive adjective before a noun.

Examples

• As a predicate adjective:
  • The old portrait depicted a man who was slightly skew-eyed.
  • Some people are born skew-eyed, a condition that can often be corrected.
• As an attributive adjective:
  • The character was played with a skew-eyed gaze that made him seem untrustworthy.
  • He gave me a skew-eyed look of disbelief.

Advanced Usage

• Descriptive Figurative Use: While primarily literal, "skew-eyed" can be used figuratively to describe a perspective or viewpoint that is distorted, misaligned, or not straightforward, though this is less common.
  • His skew-eyed interpretation of the data led to flawed conclusions. (Implies a distorted or biased perspective.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cross-eyed (adj): The most common synonym, specifically meaning having one or both eyes turned inward toward the nose.
• Squint-eyed (adj): Can mean having eyes that are partly closed or looking sideways; sometimes used similarly to "skew-eyed" but can imply narrowing the eyes.
• Walleyed (adj): Having eyes that are turned outward, away from the nose.
• Strabismic (adj): The formal medical term relating to or affected by strabismus (misalignment of the eyes).

Synonyms

• Cross-eyed
• Boss-eyed (chiefly British, informal)
• Cockeyed (informal, can also mean askew or absurd)

Antonyms

• Straight-eyed (rare, but used for contrast)
• Aligned (in the context of vision)

Notes on Usage

• The term "skew-eyed" is straightforward and descriptive. It is generally neutral but, like many terms describing physical characteristics, should be used with sensitivity. The formal medical term is strabismus (noun) or strabismic (adjective).
• It is a compound adjective formed from "skew" (meaning to turn or twist) and "eyed".

Adjective

1. having eyes that look in different directions