nonsensical
Americanadjective
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(of words or language) having little or no meaning; making little or no sense.
A baby's babbling is appealingly nonsensical.
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(of behavior, conduct, actions, etc.) foolish, senseless, fatuous, or absurd.
His nonsensical behavior was unusual for such a serious person.
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objectionable, impudent, insubordinate.
I refuse to listen to that nonsensical gossip.
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of trifling importance or of little or no use.
I've had more than enough of your nonsensical advice!
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of nonsensical
Explanation
If something has no intelligent meaning, you can describe it as nonsensical. When you're really angry, you might hear yourself sputtering nonsensical sounds and have to stop, take a breath, and start again. Lewis Carroll's poem "Jabberwocky" is full of great examples of nonsensical words, like "mimsy," "frumious," and "slithy," which manage to be both descriptive and completely nonsensical. Something that is utterly ridiculous or absurd can also be described as nonsensical. You might tell your best friend, "I know you like crazy hats, but that thing on your head is completely nonsensical."
Vocabulary lists containing nonsensical
100 SAT Words Beginning with "N"
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Prisoner B-3087
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Paper Towns
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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.
Watching the stop-motion monsters climb over ruined walls to poke at Greece’s elite soldiers, it’s easy to forgive the movie for its less-than-stellar dubbing or borderline nonsensical love story.
From Salon ● Sep. 4, 2026
“There’s no cash-producing asset under this — it’s just a big derivative onion tied to a nonsensical index,” he wrote.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026
And to imply that all editors are psychotic, it’s just nonsensical.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
Owens’ arguments are often nonsensical, but because she commands an audience of more than 6 million YouTube subscribers, they have enough power to force the rest of the commentary class to rebut them.
From Slate ● Jul. 21, 2026
Much against her will, Jo at length consented to sacrifice a day to Mrs. Grundy, and help her sister through what she regarded as ‘a nonsensical business’.
From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
