as in tangent
a statement that is not connected in a logical or clear way to anything said before it
We were talking about the new restaurant when she threw in some non sequitur about her dog.
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Recent Examples of non sequitur
Economists were trafficking in non sequitur while at the same time glossing over the fact that work divided looms largest on prices.
—
John Tamny, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024
The ornery character actor Richard Kind is his announcer, barking non sequiturs from behind a podium.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 7 Apr. 2025
Because this performance more easily could prove a non sequitur as revealing in any way.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2025
My one non sequitur of the day has to do with Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for non sequitur
John Tamny, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024
The ornery character actor Richard Kind is his announcer, barking non sequiturs from behind a podium.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 7 Apr. 2025
Because this performance more easily could prove a non sequitur as revealing in any way.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2025
My one non sequitur of the day has to do with Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for non sequitur
Recent Examples of Synonyms for non sequitur
Noun
-
Avoid tangents, overly complex presentations or cluttered visuals that overwhelm participants.—
Jason Richmond,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
-
But its event this year seemed tighter than usual, with fewer of the athletes that regularly participate going off on verbal tangents or taking up time for humorous asides.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
13 May 2025
Noun
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All of this exploring and staying open and slow-burn nonsense left us with half the villa coupled up but stagnant — unwilling to stray but unwilling to grow — and the other half hopelessly single.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
25 June 2025
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Despite the great Roger Ebert’s own glowing review, many of his contemporaries couldn’t all see of its greatness, with many dismissing it as nonsense or mere shock entertainment.—
Mark Hughes,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
Noun
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At one point, she is seen securing herself behind a gate inside what appears to be a partitioned bunk or enclosure.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 June 2025
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Due to a lack of air conditioning and the overwhelming smell of the sitting urine in the showers, the bunks were more or less unusable, meaning the majority of the Triumph's 4,000 passengers were forced to lug their mattresses onto the deck of the ship and sleep outside.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
25 June 2025
Noun
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Mika Rottenberg’s work explores the pure absurdities of our current world.—
Nargess Banks,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
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These over-the-top moments and the absurdity of its title may be the elements that made Zombi 2 famous, but beneath them is a movie with an eerie, uncanny vibe that's shockingly easy to get lost in.—
James Grebey,
Time,
20 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Non sequitur.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/non%20sequitur. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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