Definition of excursivenext
as in rambling
passing from one topic to another an excursive story line that some readers of Melville's novel find very rewarding

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for excursive
Adjective
  • 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
  • Even her supporters glance askance at one another during her rambling entreaties.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Never underestimate the power of novelty, especially in the wandering eyes of new-money millennials.
    Byron Hurd, The Drive, 27 Aug. 2026
  • They are known to ruin picnics, chase wandering children, and terrorize those who accidentally mow over a nest.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 13 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • And yet this metafictional doubling—in which people appear simultaneously as themselves and with a set of fictional flourishes—has the side effect of undermining the discursive conceit of the text.
    Maya Binyam, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Was the discursive thread accidental, or emblematic of the two poles the AI industry is now bifurcated between?
    Anisha Sircar, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
Adjective
  • Conversations can be indirect due to details being swept under the rug, as someone could be choosing to circle around a particular issue, rather than confronting it head-on.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The federal government rejected Laftagareen’s disputed indirect re-election in March.
    ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Excursive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excursive. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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