lopsided
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /lˈɒpsaɪdɪd/
US
- /ˈlɑpˈsaɪdɪd/
Description
- Uneven
- One-sided
- Tilted
- Off-balance
Imagine building a tower of blocks, but you add extra blocks to only one side, so it starts to lean. That is what this word describes. It means something is not even or balanced, with one side clearly higher, lower, bigger, or heavier than the other. A crooked smile can look charmingly uneven, and a wobbly table may come from a base that leans to one side. The word is also used for unfair situations, like a game where one team is much stronger than the other. It always gives the feeling that things are leaning too far in one direction.
The word "lopsided" paints a clear picture of imbalance: something that is not even or balanced. Think of a seesaw with a heavy child on one end and a small toddler on the other. It tilts strongly to one side, and that is the idea behind the word.
It often describes physical things. A painting may hang unevenly on a wall, a cake may rise more on one side than the other, or a tree may lean after a storm. You could say, "The old barn stood lopsided against the horizon."
However, the word is not limited to things you can see. It is also used for situations where one side has much more power, success, or advantage than the other. A "lopsided victory" means one side won by a very large margin, while a "lopsided agreement" suggests the terms strongly favor one party.
It can sometimes be used in a more playful or personal way too, but its main idea stays the same: one side outweighs the other. Whether you are describing an object, a contest, or an agreement, "lopsided" suggests that things lean too heavily in one direction. Sometimes that feels charmingly imperfect, and other times it feels plainly unfair.
Examples
- 1
Furniture
The table looked lopsided after one leg came loose.
- 2
Facial expression
She gave me a lopsided smile and said she was fine.
- 3
Sports score
The final score was lopsided, but the first half was close.
- 4
Voting result
The vote was lopsided, with nearly everyone supporting the plan.
- 5
Biased view
The article gave a lopsided view of the dispute.
Phrase
a lopsided view
a view that gives too much attention to one side
- 6
Uneven support
The new budget seems lopsided in favor of big cities.
Pattern
lopsided in favor of + side
giving much more support or attention to that side
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- lopsidedadjective