nonsense

noun

non·sense | \ ˌnän-ˌsen(t)s

, ˈnän(t)-sən(t)s\

Definition of nonsense

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : words or language having no meaning or conveying no intelligible ideas "And the mome raths outgrabe" is pure nonsense.

b(1) : language, conduct, or an idea that is absurd or contrary to good sense To regard the struggle for existence as tragic, however, is logical nonsense.— O. B. Hardison Jr.

(2) : an instance of absurd action Today's teenagers are … sharp observers of the nonsenses of adult life and society …— Bernard Trafford

2a : things of no importance or value : trifles the raincoats are classic, without any nonsense — New Yorker

b : affected or impudent conduct took no nonsense from subordinates The teacher tolerated no nonsense in her classroom.

3 : genetic information consisting of one or more codons that do not code for any amino acid and usually cause termination of the molecular chain in protein synthesis (see synthesis sense 1)

nonsense

adjective

Definition of nonsense (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : consisting of an arbitrary grouping of speech sounds or symbols \ˈshrȯg-ˌthī-əmpth\ is a nonsense word a nonsense syllable

2 : consisting of one or more codons that are genetic nonsense — compare antisense, missense

Other Words from nonsense Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about nonsense

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Other Words from nonsense

Noun

nonsensical \ ˌnän-ˈsen(t)-si-kəl

\ adjective

nonsensically \ ˌnän-ˈsen(t)-si-k(ə-)lē

\ adverb

nonsensicalness \ ˌnän-ˈsen(t)-si-kəl-nəs

\ noun

Examples of nonsense in a Sentence

Noun

I don't know why you believe that nonsense about certain numbers being unlucky. She thinks that astrology is nonsense. Don't listen to him. He's talking nonsense. He was not in the mood to put up with any nonsense from his little brother. If they start pushing each other or some such nonsense, send them to their rooms. She doesn't take any nonsense from anyone. Many of the words in the poem are nonsense. I understood so few of the words they were using that the conversation sounded like nonsense to me.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The accessories designer has made a career out of creating the kind of no-nonsense add-ons that help her customers get their lives in order. — Janelle Okwodu, Vogue, "Alyce Tran Is Here to Edit Your Handbag and Your Life," 2 May 2019 The article makes big claims but outside Russian critics claim it’s all nonsense and that the article should never have appeared in a Russian military publication. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "Journal Claims Russian Troops Have Psychic Powers," 4 Apr. 2019 Clearly, Meghan is too busy working hard and being direct with people to deal with this kind of nonsense. — Kayleigh Roberts, Marie Claire, "Here's How Meghan Markle Is Handling the Latest Round of Royal Drama," 1 Dec. 2018 Two centuries later the methods for spreading nonsense are much improved. — The Economist, "On Twitter, falsehood spreads faster than truth," 10 Mar. 2018 This makes sense given the special is named after a creature in Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking-Glass, a sequel to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland with similar themes of nonsense, twisted logic, and the surreal. — James Vincent, The Verge, "Watch the trailer for Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, releasing Friday 28th on Netflix," 27 Dec. 2018 Lots of democrat nonsense, pushing LGBT agenda down throat too. — Allie Gemmill, Teen Vogue, ""A Star Is Born" Fans Are Tweeting Bad Reviews of "Venom" So People See Lady Gaga's Movie Instead," 2 Oct. 2018 While in the midst of that assignment—which required the kind of delicate give-and-take ill-suited to a hard-driving, no-nonsense Marine—the 72-year-old Mueller received a final call to public service. — Garrett M. Graff, WIRED, "The Untold Story of Robert Mueller's Time in Combat," 15 May 2018 Watch: Barbara Bush's 1990 commencement speech at Wellesley: Transcript: Barbara Bush's Commencement Address, June 1, 1990 Thank you, Mrs. Bush, for your dignity, no-nonsense demeanor, civility, and all-around largesse. — CBS News, "Barbara Bush's classic commencement speech at Wellesley," 22 Apr. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Stapleton’s no-nonsense half hour set the tone for the rest of the night, as a house band settled in to back solo slots from Taylor, Henley and Walsh without breaks. — Michael Rietmulder, The Seattle Times, "Review: Joe Walsh’s VetsAid was a familial star-powered party at Tacoma Dome, raising $1.2 million," 12 Nov. 2018 Nac Un Ēd Ganību dambis 30 For traditional, no-nonsense Latvian fare, video and installation artist Katrīna Neiburga suggests Nac Un Ēd. — Laura Bannister, Vogue, "Where to Go in Riga, Latvia, the New Arts Hub of the Baltic," 17 June 2018 Union stars as Shaun, a no-nonsense family woman cleaning up the mess her father left behind after his sudden death. — Barbara Vandenburgh, azcentral, "Gabrielle Union kicks serious butt in violent ‘Breaking In’," 11 May 2018 Other symptoms include incoherent or nonsense speech, and behavior that is inappropriate for the situation. — Marc Siegel, National Review, "President Trump and the Dangers of Armchair Psychiatry," 11 Jan. 2018 The girls around me were singing along, just nonsense sounds, warming up their voices. — Edan Lepucki, Slate Magazine, "“Chorus”," 1 Feb. 2017 Coach Butch Jones, entering his fifth year leading the program, set the tone with his Wednesday no-nonsense press conference. — Mike Griffith, ajc, "Tennessee football podcast: Team 121 carries quiet confidence into pregame buildup," 1 Sep. 2017 Hoffman supplied nonsense answers, calling himself Cardinal Spellman and claiming his group didn’t exist. — Lorraine Boissoneault, Smithsonian, "How the New York Stock Exchange Gave Abbie Hoffman His Start in Guerrilla Theater," 24 Aug. 2017 But that didn't stop members of Congress from opining on the definition of the most popular nonsense word of Trump's presidency. — Cleve R. Wootson Jr., Washington Post, "Trump tweets ‘covfefe,’ inspiring a semi-comedic act of Congress," 31 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'nonsense.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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More Definitions for nonsense

nonsense

noun

English Language Learners Definition of nonsense

: words or ideas that are foolish or untrue

: behavior that is silly, annoying, or unkind

: language that has no meaning

See the full definition for nonsense in the English Language Learners Dictionary

nonsense

noun

non·sense | \ ˈnän-ˌsens

, -səns\

Kids Definition of nonsense

: foolish or meaningless words, ideas, or actions Don't believe such nonsense.

nonsense

noun

non·sense | \ ˈnän-ˌsen(t)s, ˈnän(t)-sən(t)s

Medical Definition of nonsense

(Entry 1 of 2)

: genetic information consisting of one or more codons that do not code for any amino acid and usually cause termination of the molecular chain in protein synthesis — compare antisense, missense