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lopsided
/ˈlɒpˌsaɪdɪd/
uneven or unbalanced
The election results were lopsided, with one candidate winning 80% of the vote.
The results were extremely unfair or one-sided.
neutral
Having one side lower, smaller, or weaker than the other; uneven in distribution.
The table wobbled because one leg was lopsided.
One leg was shorter, causing imbalance.
Their relationship became lopsided as one partner did all the work.
The effort was unevenly distributed.
Often describes physical imbalance or unfair distribution of effort/resources.
neutral
Markedly disproportionate or biased in favor of one side.
The debate was lopsided from the start, with one side dominating.
The debate was unfairly skewed.
Common in sports, elections, or competitive contexts.
Collocations
lopsided victorya win by a very large marginlopsided distributionunequal sharing of resourceslopsided smilea smile that is uneven or crooked
Antonyms
Pro Tip
Avoid confusion with 'one-sided'
'Lopsided' implies imbalance due to physical or structural issues, while 'one-sided' can describe unfairness in arguments or relationships. Example: 'a lopsided table' vs. 'a one-sided debate'.
Gold Rule
Physical vs. Figurative Use
Use 'lopsided' for tangible imbalance (e.g., 'a lopsided stack of books') and figurative imbalance (e.g., 'a lopsided workload').
Word Origin
Compound of 'lop' (meaning 'to hang loosely' or 'to droop') + 'sided' (from 'side'). First recorded in the early 17th century, originally describing physical imbalance.
Usage Notes
Used literally for physical imbalance (e.g., furniture, objects) and figuratively for unfair distributions (e.g., power, effort). Avoid in formal contexts where 'unbalanced' or 'asymmetrical' might be preferred.
Word Breakdown
lop
to hang loosely or droop
rootsided
having sides
suffixEnglish Dictionary