nonstarter
noun
non·start·er
ˌnän-ˈstär-tər 
1
: one that does not start
2
: someone or something that is not productive or effective
… his son has been, in politics a nonstarter …—
Anthony Lejeune
Anthony LejeuneExamples of nonstarter in a Sentence
She's the leading scorer among the team's nonstarters.
Recent Examples on the Web
In a nation where the rule of law still matters, Elliott would allow cities and towns to pay utilities a fraction of the value of their infrastructure (poles, wires, transformers, and easements) because to pay their real value would make his proposal a nonstarter.
—Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 20 June 2026
But in just a few short weeks, wearing San Antonio Spurs merchandise in the city has gone from a harmless proposal—even a lowkey flex—to an absolute nonstarter.
—Joan Kennedy, Vogue, 10 June 2026
Obviously a lot of these ideas are nonstarters in the current political environment.
—Clio Chang, Curbed, 2 June 2026
This is could be a nonstarter for many gamers.
—Matthew Buzzi, PC Magazine, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for nonstarter
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Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 20 June 2026
But in just a few short weeks, wearing San Antonio Spurs merchandise in the city has gone from a harmless proposal—even a lowkey flex—to an absolute nonstarter.
—Joan Kennedy, Vogue, 10 June 2026
Obviously a lot of these ideas are nonstarters in the current political environment.
—Clio Chang, Curbed, 2 June 2026
This is could be a nonstarter for many gamers.
—Matthew Buzzi, PC Magazine, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for nonstarter
Cite this Entry
“Nonstarter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonstarter. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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