nonstarter
noun
non·start·er
ˌnän-ˈstär-tər 
1
: one that does not start
2
: someone or something that is not productive or effective
his son has been, in politics a nonstarter—
Anthony Lejeune
Anthony LejeuneExamples of nonstarter in a Sentence
She's the leading scorer among the team's nonstarters.
Recent Examples on the Web
The measure would boost defense spending while trimming domestic social programs below 2024 levels, an approach that is a nonstarter for Democratic leaders who insist that Pentagon and nondefense spending move in the same direction.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 10 Mar. 2025
That approach is likely to be a nonstarter for most Democrats who have long insisted that defense and nondefense spending move in the same direction.
—Kevin Freking, The Denver Post, 8 Mar. 2025
But Republicans are making clear that’s a nonstarter.
—Kevin Freking, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2025
And given the brutal physical nature of football, adding an extra game that doesn't lead to the Super Bowl is probably a nonstarter.
—David K. Li, NBC News, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nonstarter
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Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 10 Mar. 2025
That approach is likely to be a nonstarter for most Democrats who have long insisted that defense and nondefense spending move in the same direction.
—Kevin Freking, The Denver Post, 8 Mar. 2025
But Republicans are making clear that’s a nonstarter.
—Kevin Freking, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2025
And given the brutal physical nature of football, adding an extra game that doesn't lead to the Super Bowl is probably a nonstarter.
—David K. Li, NBC News, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nonstarter
Cite this Entry
“Nonstarter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonstarter. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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