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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nonsensical
Below, the two — whose FNL jersey numbers finally give actual meaning to the nonsensical 6-7 meme — put the ball down and talk life then and now.
—
Rachel Desantis, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
The plot alternates between obvious and nonsensical.
—Judy Berman, Time, 6 Nov. 2025
The science author Stuart Clark notes that the concept was nonsensical to contemporary scientists, who assumed that magnetism could not break free from a magnet and that the Sun’s energy radiated equally across its surface.
—Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
Concerned friends, both mine and his, counseled against him posting rambling, nonsensical monologues, and about his drug use.
—Coley Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
Each one, though, has errors, including nonsensical writing or text that appears seemingly out of nowhere on a whiteboard.
—PC Magazine, 25 Oct. 2025
Don’t worry, here’s what to know about the seemingly nonsensical term.
—Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 24 Oct. 2025
The tonal whiplash gave it a nonsensical, dark irony, like something an especially cynical Tim Robinson would create.
—T. M. Brown, New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2025
This is still a Tron movie, however, beholden to a mythology that is ridiculously complicated at best and WTF-nonsensical at worst.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2025
Rachel Desantis, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
The plot alternates between obvious and nonsensical.
—Judy Berman, Time, 6 Nov. 2025
The science author Stuart Clark notes that the concept was nonsensical to contemporary scientists, who assumed that magnetism could not break free from a magnet and that the Sun’s energy radiated equally across its surface.
—Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
Concerned friends, both mine and his, counseled against him posting rambling, nonsensical monologues, and about his drug use.
—Coley Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
Each one, though, has errors, including nonsensical writing or text that appears seemingly out of nowhere on a whiteboard.
—PC Magazine, 25 Oct. 2025
Don’t worry, here’s what to know about the seemingly nonsensical term.
—Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 24 Oct. 2025
The tonal whiplash gave it a nonsensical, dark irony, like something an especially cynical Tim Robinson would create.
—T. M. Brown, New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2025
This is still a Tron movie, however, beholden to a mythology that is ridiculously complicated at best and WTF-nonsensical at worst.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nonsensical
Adjective
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The combination of absurd temperatures, damp humidity, and having my hair stick to my neck daily was driving me insane.—
Kayla Greaves,
Essence,
6 Nov. 2025
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Plus, who doesn’t love Nick Offerman sharing the screen with absurd facial hair?—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The brazen, silly grandeur of the piece was astounding.—
David Denby,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
-
The Saturday Night Live alum's vast tattoo collection, at one point made up of around 200 pieces of body art, includes ink dedicated to his former girlfriends, as well as more silly, lighthearted designs.—
Nicholas Rice,
PEOPLE,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Even its star, Kim Kardashian, is leaning into the bizarre criticism, posting photos on Instagram of herself laughing along with the rest of the cast, interspersed with scathing reviews.—
Rebecca Aizin,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
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And calls like Payton’s bizarre third-and-1 trick play involving Courtland Sutton — a double pass that never came to be — aren’t helping.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
What gave me the crazy idea to stand at the bar, listening to that woman being praised for her stupid f---ing commitment to New York City and her ugly f---ing buildings?—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
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Her mechanism for luring victims involves a stick, someone’s hair, her blood, and another person stupid enough to let her through their front door.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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That was questionable, but not egregiously foolish, in our view, because of the limited amount of time left.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Another agent pointed to how contractions in post-strike, post-pandemic Hollywood have decimated the theater business, creating new opportunities that Netflix would be foolish to pass up.—
Chris Lee,
Vulture,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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His votes, like his tattoos, just weren’t insane enough anymore.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
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His voice messages of songs are amazing and insane.—
Kristin Robinson,
Billboard,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Drake Maye, the third overall pick in 2024, is playing unreal football right now after connecting on 21 of 23 passes to beat the Titans 31-13 last week.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
25 Oct. 2025
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Dohnányi, after no end of rigorous rehearsal, obtained a collective sound of unreal, flabbergasting clarity.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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But as Lilly explains to Ronnie, telling the truth now won’t do anything to absolve Hank — everyone already thinks Lilly is crazy.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
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Though that is highly unlikely, crazier things have happened in the NFL.—
Robert Marvi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nonsensical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonsensical. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.
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