nonlinear
adjective
non·lin·e·ar
ˌnän-ˈli-nē-ər 
: 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
Lyall Watson
nonlinearly
adverb
Examples of nonlinear in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The seamless integration of old and new feels stealthy, and a touch subversive, a doubling-down on the museum’s approach to time as nonlinear, sinuous and delightfully slippery.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Not having followed the same historical trajectory, Wichí textiles have a nonlinear genealogy of their own—one that does not attempt to justify its value by tying itself to modernist abstraction.
—María Carri, Artforum, 16 Apr. 2026
By Kaneva’s reckoning, nonlinear prices will hit the global oil market by late May if nothing changes before then.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 7 Apr. 2026
The nonlinear experience will feature show moments with each of the four monsters and a finale with a different ending every night.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nonlinear
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.
Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Not having followed the same historical trajectory, Wichí textiles have a nonlinear genealogy of their own—one that does not attempt to justify its value by tying itself to modernist abstraction.
—María Carri, Artforum, 16 Apr. 2026
By Kaneva’s reckoning, nonlinear prices will hit the global oil market by late May if nothing changes before then.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 7 Apr. 2026
The nonlinear experience will feature show moments with each of the four monsters and a finale with a different ending every night.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nonlinear
Cite this Entry
“Nonlinear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonlinear. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
