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
Within many of the pieces are his grid-like codes, sculpted into nonsensical slashes and symbols that evoke the ancient writings of Mesopotamian and Sumerian cuneiform.
—
Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 28 May 2026
This is all nonsensical, self-defeating, masochistic behavior.
—CNBC, 27 May 2026
To celebrate his 40th birthday on May 13, 2026, read on to hear some of Pattinson's most nonsensical musings, from his hair-washing frequency to childhood hand modeling.
—Alexandra Schonfeld, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
Over sunny instrumentation, Rhys flits back and forth between English and Welsh in what feels like a nonsensical miasma of free association.
—David Harris, SPIN, 4 May 2026
Grandma may be the queen of nonsensical sayings, but Dad is certainly the king of cheesy jokes.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 2 May 2026
The second happens when the cords of logic break entirely; these patients jump from idea to idea in a meaningless way, and their speech is nonsensical—what doctors call word salad.
—Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
The time is ripe for the removal of this nonsensical ban.
—Paige Lambermont, Oc Register, 26 Apr. 2026
And, unlike Jokic, doesn’t display the wherewithal to avoid nonsensical fouls that hurt the team via in-the-moment free throws as well as adding to the quarter’s foul tally.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 23 Apr. 2026
Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 28 May 2026
This is all nonsensical, self-defeating, masochistic behavior.
—CNBC, 27 May 2026
To celebrate his 40th birthday on May 13, 2026, read on to hear some of Pattinson's most nonsensical musings, from his hair-washing frequency to childhood hand modeling.
—Alexandra Schonfeld, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
Over sunny instrumentation, Rhys flits back and forth between English and Welsh in what feels like a nonsensical miasma of free association.
—David Harris, SPIN, 4 May 2026
Grandma may be the queen of nonsensical sayings, but Dad is certainly the king of cheesy jokes.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 2 May 2026
The second happens when the cords of logic break entirely; these patients jump from idea to idea in a meaningless way, and their speech is nonsensical—what doctors call word salad.
—Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
The time is ripe for the removal of this nonsensical ban.
—Paige Lambermont, Oc Register, 26 Apr. 2026
And, unlike Jokic, doesn’t display the wherewithal to avoid nonsensical fouls that hurt the team via in-the-moment free throws as well as adding to the quarter’s foul tally.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 23 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nonsensical
Adjective
-
There is always the possibility that something absurd might occur — the equivalent of Neymar’s 2017 move to Paris Saint-Germain, for instance — but that’s extremely unlikely.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
-
Ironically, the fears of two Republicans advancing were driven by Democratic data vendor Paul Mitchell, who built a prediction machine using absurd inputs like betting odds and polls that cannot account for things like rape allegations.—
Matt Fleming,
Oc Register,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
Through the fuzz and the bad camera angles emerges an extraordinary catalogue of dummies, flicks, and feints, a hodge-podge of silly tricks.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
-
To lose that would be silly now.—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
That’s just a really bizarre back and forth to exist in.—
Hanif Abdurraqib,
New Yorker,
31 May 2026
-
As the story builds toward a violent showdown between the mourners and the town, the reader will be entranced by its surreal language and bizarre logic.—
Gabrielle Bellot,
Literary Hub,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
And that was so arrogant and stupid on my part.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
-
At some point, Brandon Aiyuk has to learn that stupid decisions come with consequences.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
If the target was foolish enough to reuse passwords, credential thefts like these could enable the compromise of more important accounts.—
Rob Pegoraro,
PC Magazine,
3 June 2026
-
Backing the Cubs right now seems foolish.—
David Troy OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
After eighteen months of crisis that saw historic urban fires, harassment by federal immigration authorities, and the generalized anxiety that attends a place where rents are high and services low, public transit inadequate and gas prices insane, the city’s vitality is flagging.—
Dana Goodyear,
New Yorker,
4 June 2026
-
Lots of wires, lots of insane stunts.—
Entertainment Weekly,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
The situation only worsens after 9/11, the immediate, unreal impact of which Rivilis sharply captures with a steady pan across a classroom of stunned students, their faces in various states of stricken disbelief, if not simply in their hands.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
20 May 2026
-
But Miller’s first 11 appearances were unreal.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
Do crazy stuff on social media?—
Nathan Heller,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
-
Just being connected with another human is crazy.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nonsensical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonsensical. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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