as in aside
a departure from the subject under consideration
in the middle of her description of her dog's symptoms, she went off on a tangent about its cute behavior
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in tangential
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tangent
Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 11 Nov. 2025
But it was edited several times for length, to avoid tangents and the repetitiveness of partisan attacks.
—David Bauder, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025
Darren Franich, EW.com, 19 Aug. 2022
Austin’s former president then went on a tangent talking about Reese’s eggs, Cap’n Crunch and berries.
—Frank Pallotta, CNN, 17 Apr. 2022
See All Example Sentences for tangent
Noun
After all, her 2019 sophomore book Nothing Fancy, an unfussy food philosophy for newbie and pro hosts alike—more anchovies, lots of tangy citrus, a welcome tangent into a DIY martini bar—became the food bible for millennial dinner-party throwers.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 11 Nov. 2025
But it was edited several times for length, to avoid tangents and the repetitiveness of partisan attacks.
—David Bauder, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
An early tangent veers into naval warfare, with various forces fighting for crucial shipping lanes.
—Darren Franich, EW.com, 19 Aug. 2022
Austin’s former president then went on a tangent talking about Reese’s eggs, Cap’n Crunch and berries.
—Frank Pallotta, CNN, 17 Apr. 2022
See All Example Sentences for tangent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tangent
Noun
-
That context is probably enough to appreciate some of the film’s most delightful asides, such as a profile of the man behind GumBusters — a business that power blasts old gum off the streets of NYC — and a brief aside into the temporary venues that host Wilson’s favorite DIY noise shows.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
23 Jan. 2026
-
As an aside, as volatility returns to the markets, see Why Nvidia Stock Can Drop 30%?—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
And studies show that maintaining even a small set of meaningful professional relationships has a stronger impact on career opportunities than amassing hundreds of weak or tangential connections.—
Kathy Caprino,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Ostensibly, though, the movie is meant to serve as the story of a tangential figure in the greater Wu Tang community, Dutch Moroccan rapper-producer Tarik Azzougarh, known to hip-hop fans as Cilvaringz.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The plot takes quite a few wild digressions on our heroes’ way to meeting Hamm (who also gives an excellent performance as himself).—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
26 Jan. 2026
-
As a host, Bragg was both inviting and impatient, genuinely curious about his guests’ ideas but intolerant of digression or indulgent nerding out.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The hood fits nicely over a helmet without restricting peripheral vision, while a high-vis brim is a plus for night skiing.—
Benjamin Tepler,
Outside,
23 Jan. 2026
-
In each case, what had been a peripheral function was elevated to the C-suite because executives recognized that the stakes had grown too high for half-measures.—
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
18 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
But what distinguishes this series is how incidental all the superhero business is meant to feel.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
27 Jan. 2026
-
In the end, McAdams’ sexiness isn’t incidental, but integral to how she’s been misjudged.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
For example, in learning contexts, adaptive forgetting, or the ability to let go of irrelevant information, can actually improve cognitive performance overall.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Trump’s detractors may dismiss these bonds as empty or irrelevant.—
Daniel Yudkin,
The Atlantic,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tangent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tangent. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
