1
as in absurd
conceived or made without regard for reason or reality
a nonsensical decision that didn't take account of all of the facts
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in silly
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment
your plan to lose weight through total starvation is completely nonsensical
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nonsensical
Popularized by a beer commercial during the 1986 World Cup, it’s used to rally on teams with its repetitive (albeit nonsensical) syllables as well as its upbeat ending.
—
Michael Rios, CNN Money, 7 June 2026
But the actors are reduced to joke machines trapped in a nonsensical nonplot, and while some of those gags yield laughs, a far greater number fall flat.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026
Within many of the pieces are his grid-like codes, sculpted into nonsensical slashes and symbols that evoke the ancient writings of Mesopotamian and Sumerian cuneiform.
—Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 28 May 2026
This is all nonsensical, self-defeating, masochistic behavior.
—CNBC, 27 May 2026
To celebrate his 40th birthday on May 13, 2026, read on to hear some of Pattinson's most nonsensical musings, from his hair-washing frequency to childhood hand modeling.
—Alexandra Schonfeld, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
Over sunny instrumentation, Rhys flits back and forth between English and Welsh in what feels like a nonsensical miasma of free association.
—David Harris, SPIN, 4 May 2026
Grandma may be the queen of nonsensical sayings, but Dad is certainly the king of cheesy jokes.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 2 May 2026
The second happens when the cords of logic break entirely; these patients jump from idea to idea in a meaningless way, and their speech is nonsensical—what doctors call word salad.
—Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
Michael Rios, CNN Money, 7 June 2026
But the actors are reduced to joke machines trapped in a nonsensical nonplot, and while some of those gags yield laughs, a far greater number fall flat.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026
Within many of the pieces are his grid-like codes, sculpted into nonsensical slashes and symbols that evoke the ancient writings of Mesopotamian and Sumerian cuneiform.
—Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 28 May 2026
This is all nonsensical, self-defeating, masochistic behavior.
—CNBC, 27 May 2026
To celebrate his 40th birthday on May 13, 2026, read on to hear some of Pattinson's most nonsensical musings, from his hair-washing frequency to childhood hand modeling.
—Alexandra Schonfeld, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
Over sunny instrumentation, Rhys flits back and forth between English and Welsh in what feels like a nonsensical miasma of free association.
—David Harris, SPIN, 4 May 2026
Grandma may be the queen of nonsensical sayings, but Dad is certainly the king of cheesy jokes.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 2 May 2026
The second happens when the cords of logic break entirely; these patients jump from idea to idea in a meaningless way, and their speech is nonsensical—what doctors call word salad.
—Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nonsensical
Adjective
-
There is always the possibility that something absurd might occur — the equivalent of Neymar’s 2017 move to Paris Saint-Germain, for instance — but that’s extremely unlikely.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
-
Ironically, the fears of two Republicans advancing were driven by Democratic data vendor Paul Mitchell, who built a prediction machine using absurd inputs like betting odds and polls that cannot account for things like rape allegations.—
Matt Fleming,
Oc Register,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
Through the fuzz and the bad camera angles emerges an extraordinary catalogue of dummies, flicks, and feints, a hodge-podge of silly tricks.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
-
To lose that would be silly now.—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
That’s just a really bizarre back and forth to exist in.—
Hanif Abdurraqib,
New Yorker,
31 May 2026
-
As the story builds toward a violent showdown between the mourners and the town, the reader will be entranced by its surreal language and bizarre logic.—
Gabrielle Bellot,
Literary Hub,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
And that was so arrogant and stupid on my part.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
-
At some point, Brandon Aiyuk has to learn that stupid decisions come with consequences.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
If the target was foolish enough to reuse passwords, credential thefts like these could enable the compromise of more important accounts.—
Rob Pegoraro,
PC Magazine,
3 June 2026
-
Backing the Cubs right now seems foolish.—
David Troy OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
After eighteen months of crisis that saw historic urban fires, harassment by federal immigration authorities, and the generalized anxiety that attends a place where rents are high and services low, public transit inadequate and gas prices insane, the city’s vitality is flagging.—
Dana Goodyear,
New Yorker,
4 June 2026
-
Lots of wires, lots of insane stunts.—
Entertainment Weekly,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
The situation only worsens after 9/11, the immediate, unreal impact of which Rivilis sharply captures with a steady pan across a classroom of stunned students, their faces in various states of stricken disbelief, if not simply in their hands.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
20 May 2026
-
But Miller’s first 11 appearances were unreal.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
Do crazy stuff on social media?—
Nathan Heller,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
-
Just being connected with another human is crazy.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nonsensical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonsensical. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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