1
as in absurd
conceived or made without regard for reason or reality
a nonsensical decision that didn't take account of all of the facts
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in silly
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment
your plan to lose weight through total starvation is completely nonsensical
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of nonsensical
That day, 30 words were broadcast, some of which were nonsensical.
—
Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
Enjoy Motor City as pastiche, however, and the nonsensical bits can just about be read as part of the film’s retro charm.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 30 Aug. 2025
And that calculus has become a nonsensical proxy for academic rigor – a college Squid Game, and one that became even more important post-Covid with the rise of test-optional admissions.
—Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Expect enough backstabbing, saucy secrets, and nonsensical cameos to more than make up for the loss of And Just Like That.
—Lucy Ford, Time, 28 Aug. 2025
There are countless YouTube videos and Reddit threads poring over the scant details we’ve been given and putting forth theories that range from intriguing to nonsensical.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2025
Listen to Macron, who points to vanishing prospects of a two-state solution as his nonsensical rationale for recognizing a nonexistent Palestinian state.
—Hussein Agha, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
Those who have been following along with teen slang trends this year might notice that a lot of terms Gen Alpha/ Gen Z use are nonsensical.
—Annabelle Canela, Parents, 19 Aug. 2025
Both of those can be connected to a need to make sense of something that may feel nonsensical.
—Charles Trepany, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2025
Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
Enjoy Motor City as pastiche, however, and the nonsensical bits can just about be read as part of the film’s retro charm.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 30 Aug. 2025
And that calculus has become a nonsensical proxy for academic rigor – a college Squid Game, and one that became even more important post-Covid with the rise of test-optional admissions.
—Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Expect enough backstabbing, saucy secrets, and nonsensical cameos to more than make up for the loss of And Just Like That.
—Lucy Ford, Time, 28 Aug. 2025
There are countless YouTube videos and Reddit threads poring over the scant details we’ve been given and putting forth theories that range from intriguing to nonsensical.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2025
Listen to Macron, who points to vanishing prospects of a two-state solution as his nonsensical rationale for recognizing a nonexistent Palestinian state.
—Hussein Agha, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
Those who have been following along with teen slang trends this year might notice that a lot of terms Gen Alpha/ Gen Z use are nonsensical.
—Annabelle Canela, Parents, 19 Aug. 2025
Both of those can be connected to a need to make sense of something that may feel nonsensical.
—Charles Trepany, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nonsensical
Adjective
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There’s no denying that catfish noodling is an absurd sport.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
11 Sep. 2025
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Barely any other media in recent times has given me an instant shock of glee or revulsion like this absurd anarcho-cartoon being stretched and squeezed to its most grotesque and wholesome clickbait limits.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Mea Culpa is Perry at his most knowingly silly, and a throwback to erotic thrillers of decades past.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Sep. 2025
-
For every community of mass-shooter fandoms, there is another that is silly, joyous, productive, or totally harmless.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
But everything changes when a string of gruesome killings—which grow increasingly bizarre, with victims covered in rashes and found in deranged, violent states—involves his young daughter Hyo-jin (Kim Hwan-hee).—
Travis Bean,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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Paxton’s interest in Paul’s plight was bizarre, obsessive and so far beyond normal operations at the attorney general’s office that the agency’s top officials struggled to convey their concerns during the hourslong meeting with two FBI agents.—
Kimberly Ross,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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And when Sam cooks up a truly stupid scheme to make some quick cash, there’s little doubt a heavy like Mickey isn’t going to like it.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
12 Sep. 2025
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There's a fine line between stupid and clever, indeed.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
But giving someone as historically great as Derrick Henry added motivation, certainly may prove to be a foolish decision from Delpit.—
Reice Shipley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
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There’s highly capable support in the cast from the unfailingly superb Vázquez, emanating gravitas, humanity and barely contained anger at the increasing frequency and spread of wildfires and the foolish refusal of those in power to address the growing threat.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Malik Heath’s insane toe-tap grab on the sideline, which was reversed after video replay review, was a massive 37-yard swing for the Packers during the drive.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
12 Sep. 2025
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None of their other work, arguably, has had the seismic impact or inspires the same insane quotability as This Is Spinal Tap.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Winocour’s intent seems to be to take the fashion world, in its slightly unreal glamour and money and power, and bring it gently down to earth and humanize it.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
9 Sep. 2025
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The air is fresh, the pace is calm, and the views are unreal.—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Years later narratives about colonization or slavery or the crazy suffragettes always centre on the light and the justice these people fought for.—
Sara Stridsberg
September 15,
Literary Hub,
15 Sep. 2025
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Oh, and that rookie receiver with the two crazy catches?—
Christian Romo,
Freep.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nonsensical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonsensical. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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