angular
Americanadjective
-
having an angle or angles.
-
consisting of, situated at, or forming an angle.
-
of, relating to, or measured by an angle.
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Physics. pertaining to quantities related to a revolving body that are measured in reference to its axis of revolution.
-
bony, lean, or gaunt.
a tall, angular man.
- Antonyms:
- rotund
-
acting or moving awkwardly.
- Antonyms:
- graceful
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stiff in manner; unbending.
adjective
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lean or bony
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awkward or stiff in manner or movement
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having an angle or angles
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placed at an angle
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measured by an angle or by the rate at which an angle changes
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of angular
1590–1600; < Latin angulāris having corners or angles, equivalent to angul ( us ) angle 1 + -āris -ar 1
Explanation
Whether it’s a face with strikingly lean bone structure, a tall rectangular building, or something written in Arabic script, anything that is characterized by sharp angles can be described as angular. The word angular describes objects that have sharp angles, such as something with many corners and few soft curves. You’ll also hear it used to describe a person’s face or body. A tall, thin person with prominent bones can be described as angular. The word can be used figuratively to describe movements that are jerky and not smooth, such as the angular dance moves that go with a fast rock song.
Vocabulary lists containing angular
Words to Describe a Work of Art
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Lesson 4
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"The Fox" by Malinda Lo
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Churchill was a short, stout, luxury-loving aristocrat, while de Gaulle was a tall, angular ascetic.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026
Although orbital angular momentum entanglement has been widely explored, it has often been considered fragile.
From Science Daily • Mar. 21, 2026
The new wing was designed by Shohei Shigematsu and Rem Koolhaas with Cooper Robertson, and has the geometric look of angular mesh enveloping an open stair case, elevator shafts and display spaces.
From Barron's • Mar. 18, 2026
Generally speaking, it’s more angular, more acid, more morbid, more willing to let a protagonist stew in misery, more suspicious of sentiment than our comparatively genial homegrown brand.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 12, 2026
On the reverse side of the rumpled schedule there was a letter written in the uneven and angular hand that constituted Minkoffian penmanship.
From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.