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
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
For years, he has been sequestered in their house, ranting, raving and writing nonsensical math equations in hundreds of notebooks.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 17 Apr. 2026
But the aspects of Outcome that resonate have nearly nothing to do with the nonsensical specter of cancel culture.
—Josh Spiegel, HollywoodReporter, 11 Apr. 2026
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
For years, he has been sequestered in their house, ranting, raving and writing nonsensical math equations in hundreds of notebooks.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 17 Apr. 2026
But the aspects of Outcome that resonate have nearly nothing to do with the nonsensical specter of cancel culture.
—Josh Spiegel, HollywoodReporter, 11 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nonsensical
Adjective
-
Most absurd of all is the notion that Trump specifically worries about being seen as indulging in frivolity during wartime.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
21 May 2026
-
Cue a mordantly absurd scene where his chance to land a position in the administration hinges on him successfully retrieving a precious package from a muddy field behind enemy lines, which turns out to be a damp and recalcitrant cat.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
Even though the percentages and point-system, along with simulcast rules, can seem silly and out of touch with creative and investment reality, CanCon made possible global hits like Crave and HBO’s hockey romance series Heated Rivalry.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
21 May 2026
-
That tension — something prosaic or silly culminating in something hilarious and transfixing — achieved what poor Vandenberg and her pratfalls could not.—
Anna Peele,
Vulture,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
That is pretty bizarre, given how fantastic both atmospheres have been throughout the playoffs.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
-
Rather than representing a bizarre evolutionary innovation unique to salamanders, regeneration may actually reflect an ancient trait that many vertebrates once possessed more broadly.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
Directed by Nicolas Athane and Marco Nguyen, Jim Queen is a crass, profane, giddily stupid romp through a heap of stereotypes about gay life in Paris.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2026
-
For the record, those students are not stupid.—
Hope Loudon,
The Orlando Sentinel,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
Let’s face it, life is full of foolish decisions.—
Jay Weissberg,
Variety,
14 May 2026
-
Trump previously said his administration would have been foolish not to accept it.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
In any other historical period, proposing such a career trajectory would’ve seemed mildly insane — like if Peter Buck had followed up Fables of the Reconstruction by producing Whitney Houston instead of the Feelies.—
Jon Dolan,
Rolling Stone,
14 May 2026
-
For so much of the season, Rachel is low-key stoned, which can keep her at a remove, even when things are getting really insane.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
But this year, the bond between the boys had just been unreal.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
7 May 2026
-
Washington is waking up to what still feels to those of us who are in attendance or even those watching on live television to be an unreal experience.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Kristine had a crazy tough-love phase.—
Rachel Handler,
Vulture,
18 May 2026
-
People are finding these crazy venues to play.—
Siran Babayan,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nonsensical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonsensical. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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