discursive
passing aimlessly from one subject to another; digressive; rambling.
proceeding by reasoning or argument rather than intuition.
Origin of discursive
1Other words for discursive
Other words from discursive
- 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
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use discursive in a sentence
The war—which is a discursive battle right now, it’s a war of ideas mostly—is waged by people who feel that what’s good for the land is what’s good for people.
Kim Stanley Robinson Holds Out Hope - Issue 90: Something Green | Liz Greene | October 7, 2020 | NautilusSterne's sentiment and discursiveness found several feeble imitators.
The Political History of England - Vol. X. | William HuntIn this discursiveness of intellect he more nearly resembled the Encyclopedists of the 18th century than the men of his own time.
George Eliot | Mathilde BlindEven so slight a survey as this must show the astonishing discursiveness of Mr. Lewes's intellect.
George Eliot | Mathilde BlindThere was the same discursiveness in his talk as in his sermon, Harry thought; and the same uneasy restlessness of manner.
Stories of a Western Town | Octave Thanet
And this feeling harassed him, increasing the natural discursiveness and inconsequence of his speech.
The History of Sir Richard Calmady | Lucas Malet
British Dictionary definitions for discursive
/ (dɪˈskɜːsɪv) /
passing from one topic to another, usually in an unmethodical way; digressive
philosophy of or relating to knowledge obtained by reason and argument rather than intuition: Compare dianoetic
Origin of discursive
1Derived forms of discursive
- discursively, adverb
- discursiveness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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