"Catawampous" is a unique word that might not be commonly used in everyday conversations. It refers to something that is askew or out of alignment. There are a few synonyms that can be used instead of "catawampous" such as crooked, skewed, slanted, tilted, and off-kilter. These words can be used depending on the context of the sentence. For instance, "crooked" and "skewed" might be used to describe a painting that is hanging off the wall. Alternatively, "slanted" and "tilted" can describe a leaning tower or an uneven table. "Off-kilter" is a more modern term and can be used to describe something that is not quite right.