kantig
angular
Definition & meaning
kantig is an adjective meaning angular, edged, or having noticeable corners and edges.
It is used in several related senses:
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Literal, physical meaning:
Something has sharp corners or a clearly angular shape.- ein kantiger Tisch — an angular table
- ein kantiges Gesicht — an angular face
-
Describing a person’s appearance:
A person may look angular, bony, or strongly defined rather than soft or rounded.- Er hat ein kantiges Gesicht. — He has an angular face.
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Figurative meaning:
A person’s character, speech, or artistic style can be rough, blunt, abrasive, or unpolished.- Seine Art ist etwas kantig. — His manner is somewhat abrasive or rough.
- ein kantiger Roman — a raw, unconventional, or stylistically rough novel
Grammar & Word origin
kantig is an adjective.
- Comparative: kantiger — more angular / rougher
- Superlative: am kantigsten — the most angular / roughest
- Related noun: die Kante — edge, corner
The word is formed from Kante with the adjective suffix -ig , meaning “having” or “characterized by.” Literally, kantig means “having edges.”
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms
- eckig — angular or square-shaped; often emphasizes the presence of corners more neutrally than kantig
- scharfkantig — sharp-edged; specifically emphasizes that an edge could cause injury
- winklig ? — angular or full of angles; less common and more technical
- rau — rough or abrasive; mainly a synonym for the figurative meaning of kantig
- unverblümt — blunt or outspoken; applies to speech or behavior, not physical shape
Antonyms
- rund — round; the direct opposite when describing shape
- weich — soft or gentle; contrasts with a hard, angular appearance or manner
- glatt ? — smooth; contrasts with something having distinct edges
- geschmeidig — supple, smooth, or graceful; often the opposite in a figurative or stylistic sense
Common phrases & collocations
- ein kantiges Gesicht — an angular face
- eine kantige Figur — an angular or bony figure
- kantige Formen [?](vocabuo://word kantige%20Formen) — angular shapes
- kantige Möbel — angular furniture
- eine kantige Persönlichkeit — a rough, blunt, or unconventional personality
- kantige Sprache — blunt, harsh, or unpolished language
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Examples
Das Regal hat eine kantige Form.adjective
The shelf has an angular shape.
Dieses Möbelstück ist sehr kantig.adjective
This piece of furniture is very angular.
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