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nonlinear

adjective

non·​lin·​e·​ar ˌnän-ˈli-nē-ər How to pronounce nonlinear (audio)
: not linear
nonlinear thinking
a nonlinear narrative
… I was already interested in the nonlinear manner in which ideas and fashions travel through our culture …Lyall Watson
nonlinearity noun
plural nonlinearities
nonlinearly adverb

Examples of nonlinear in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Toward on-chip quantum systems Theoretical collaborators helped identify the best pattern for large nonlinear responses. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 Nov. 2025 Cognitive shuffling works, usually within five to 15 minutes, by distracting the brain from stress and mimicking fragmented, nonlinear thought patterns that typically occur in the transition into sleep. Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 20 Nov. 2025 The team concluded that the optimal daily intake for cognitive benefit is 150 grams of total dairy and 30 grams of whole-fat dairy, based on evidence showing nonlinear associations with the lowest risk of cognitive decline. Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025 Very real small-scale physics effects, like dynamical heating, star-formation and feedback, and nonlinear effects must be worked out and accounted for. Big Think, 23 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for nonlinear

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nonlinear was in 1884

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nonlinear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonlinear. Accessed 30 Nov. 2025.

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