discursive

[ dih-skur-siv ]

adjective

1. passing aimlessly from one subject to another; digressive; rambling.

   Synonyms: prolix, long-winded, wandering

2. proceeding by reasoning or argument rather than intuition.

discursive

/ dɪˈskɜːsɪv /

adjective

1. passing from one topic to another, usually in an unmethodical way; digressive
2. philosophy of or relating to knowledge obtained by reason and argument rather than intuition Compare dianoetic

Derived Forms

• disˈcursiveness, noun
• disˈcursively, adverb

Other Words From

• dis·cursive·ly adverb
• dis·cursive·ness noun
• nondis·cursive adjective
• nondis·cursive·ly adverb
• nondis·cursive·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of discursive¹

From the Medieval Latin word discursīvus, dating back to 1590–1600. See discourse, -ive

Word History and Origins

Origin of discursive¹

C16: from Medieval Latin discursīvus, from Late Latin discursus discourse

Example Sentences

Buterin, who gave two talks, has a discursive and often highly theoretical talking style, making it difficult to pull out specific and succinct theses from his speeches.

From Time

“Conversational intelligence is the constellation of features and technologies that enable humans and machines to take turns exchanging language and work toward accomplishing a discursive goal,” says Bennett.

From MIT Technology Review

The questions linger throughout this at times maddeningly discursive novel.

From The Daily Beast

Now Intelligence possesses them by thought, a thought which is not discursive (but intuitive).

From Project Gutenberg

Yet the impulse to discursive commentary must be checked, for plucking flowers is a distraction from comparative botany.

From Project Gutenberg

The discursive faculty then becomes what our Shakespeare, with happy precision, calls "discourse of reason."

From Project Gutenberg

Who is more discursive than the Autocrat, the Czar of table-talkers; and whose productions are more charming or wiser?

From Project Gutenberg

The evidence of such principles is established by a long and discursive psychological discussion.

From Project Gutenberg