TANGENTIAL Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

tangential

adjective

Definition of tangential

as in irrelevant

having little to do with the matter at hand Your point is tangential to the main objective of this meeting so please save it for later.

Related Words

Relevance

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 tangential Both that experience and his tangential involvement in the Amanda-West drama has affected his priorities going into the upcoming season, both in his love life and his friendships. — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 15 June 2026 Other undisclosed connections are more tangential. — Max Tani, semafor.com, 15 June 2026 The Houthis made a similar threat during the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip and killed at least nine mariners and sank four ships in over 100 attacks, often targeting vessels with tangential or no ties to Israel. — Jon Gambrell, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026 There have been a few tangential PigPen sightings in the state before now. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 31 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for tangential

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tangential

Adjective

Over the past half century, Americans have grown accustomed to regional conflicts fought by specialized professional troops, in which the support of Congress or the American public seems more or less irrelevant.

— Beverly Gage, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
Lamont dismissed Stefanowski’s private-sector record at GE, UBS and the payday lender, DFC Global, as irrelevant, at least compared to a public record.

— Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of irrelevant

Adjective

In any group of clouds, the one with the highest velocity as seen from Earth will be the one lying closest to a tangent point along its orbit around the galaxy.

— IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 30 July 2026
That means mathematicians can approximate these rotations with a straight line that touches the circle at just one point — a tangent line.

— Leila Sloman, Quanta Magazine, 3 Dec. 2025

Definition of tangent

Adjective

Could this explain why so many of our most reputable creatives are exploring what was once peripheral, spoken of with disbelief, and envisioning it as another possible dimension of existence?

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
The United Nations has designated 2026 as the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development, reflecting a broader recognition that volunteerism is not peripheral to development.

— Deirdre White, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of peripheral

Browse Nearby Words

tangent

tangential

tangentially

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Tangential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tangential. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of tangential

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

perseverate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes