nonsensical
Americanadjective
-
(of words or language) having little or no meaning; making little or no sense.
A baby's babbling is appealingly nonsensical.
-
(of behavior, conduct, actions, etc.) foolish, senseless, fatuous, or absurd.
His nonsensical behavior was unusual for such a serious person.
-
objectionable, impudent, insubordinate.
I refuse to listen to that nonsensical gossip.
-
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"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Prisoner B-3087
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Paper Towns
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
“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
Frankie invents a new nonsensical insult, calling Molly’s boyfriend Josh “such a customer.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 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
So she was well outside of her comfort zone on this May afternoon when she had to improvise a pitch for a made-up, nonsensical product called a “hammer humidifier.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 4, 2026
I tried to read “Song of Myself” again when I got home that night, but despite Dr. Holden’s advice, it still turned into a jumble of nonsensical words.
From "Paper Towns" by John Green
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.
