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Synonyms

inconsequential

American  
[in-kon-si-kwen-shuhl, in-kon-] / ˌɪn kɒn sɪˈkwɛn ʃəl, ɪnˌkɒn- /

adjective

  1. of little or no importance; insignificant; trivial.

  2. inconsequent; illogical.

  3. irrelevant.


inconsequential British  
/ ɪnˈkɒnsɪkwənt, ɪnˌkɒn-, ˌɪnkɒnsɪˈkwɛnʃəl /

adjective

  1. not following logically as a consequence

  2. trivial or insignificant

  3. not in a logical sequence; haphazard

"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

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of inconsequential

First recorded in 1615–25; in- 3 + consequential

Explanation

If something is considered of little worth or importance, it is inconsequential. If astronomers forecast a tremendous meteor shower, it might turn out to be no more than space junk, too inconsequential to record. You can use the adjective inconsequential to describe things that just don’t matter or are of no relevance, as in "the rainy forecast is totally inconsequential — the bowling tournament is inside!" It also describes things that don't make sense in a certain order, "trying to win their votes is inconsequential: the election's over." Something small or minor can be inconsequential too, though the red bump on your nose on picture-day may not seem as inconsequential to you as it does to the photographer.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing inconsequential

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

But don’t worry, Netflix has a solution to stop that fleeting, inconsequential feeling: AI!

From Salon Jul. 23, 2026

The music on Daughter From Hell is largely the same as before: low key, whisper-soft, self-interrogating, floaty and inconsequential.

From BBC Jul. 18, 2026

Some commenters zero in on seemingly inconsequential details.

From MarketWatch May 13, 2026

But by the time McMurtry died in March 2021, few would have considered his output to be inconsequential.

From The Wall Street Journal Mar. 30, 2026

It rains on this inconsequential town more than any other place in the United States of America.

From "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer

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