DISCURSIVE Synonyms: 23 Similar and Opposite Words

discursive

adjective

di-ˈskər-siv

Definition of discursive

as in rambling

passing from one topic to another the speaker's discursive style made it difficult to understand his point

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of discursive The temporary and discursive structure allowed global visibility without institutional permanence. — Daniel Birnbaum, Artforum, 2 Apr. 2026 Real Man Adventures isn’t broken up into chapter-length sections of narrative, but rather brief, discursive essays. — Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026 The instructional promise of each episode was a bit, a starting point for discursive, funny, intermittently personal mini-essays that always started in Wilson’s beloved New York, but could and did make their way anywhere. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 23 Jan. 2026 Knowledge itself can be both logical and discursive. — Bruce Schneier, IEEE Spectrum, 21 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for discursive

Recent Examples of Synonyms for discursive

Adjective

And then there’s the Kiyosaki residence, a rambling Moroccan fantasia with muddy adobe walls and a pink door.

— Christopher Cox, Vanity Fair, 26 Aug. 2026
In the podcast, conversations with guests are interspersed with rambling reflections from Von, who is open about his past issues with substance abuse.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of rambling

Adjective

With Black Friday and also Christmas Day games on Netflix only becoming a thing over the past couple of years, some have wondered if the NFL has a wandering eye.

— Dade Hayes, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2026
The ancient, walkable cities here invite wandering and exploration.

— Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of wandering

Adjective

The sanctions aim to isolate the Islamic Republic from its remaining economic partners, including China, which buys more than 80% of Iranian oil shipments, usually through indirect channels.

— Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
The financial-services industry has always been an indirect and noisy prediction market for relatively narrow topics.

— Finn Brunton, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of indirect

Adjective

As Port falls in with a group of conspirators preparing for the insurrection, the book takes on a hallucinatory, digressive quality, blurring the lines between life and death, reality and illusion.

— The New Yorker, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
Like all Kashian’s work, Alter-Kashian is densely packed, and her breakneck, digressive style doesn’t leave much room to come up for air.

— Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 30 Mar. 2026

Definition of digressive

Browse Nearby Words

discriminatory

discursive

discuss

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“Discursive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discursive. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of discursive

adjective

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