nonsensical

[ non-sen-si-kuhl ]

adjective

1. (of words or language) having little or no meaning; making little or no sense:

   A baby's babbling is appealingly nonsensical.

2. (of behavior, conduct, actions, etc.) foolish, senseless, fatuous, or absurd:

   His nonsensical behavior was unusual for such a serious person.

3. objectionable, impudent, insubordinate:

   I refuse to listen to that nonsensical gossip.

4. of trifling importance or of little or no use:

   I've had more than enough of your nonsensical advice!

Other Words From

• non·sensi·cal·ly adverb
• nonsen·si·cali·ty non·sensi·cal·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of nonsensical¹

nonsense + -ical

Example Sentences

It seems like a nonsensical jumble of food when we describe it like this, but it turned out to be a fairly decent meal.

From Washington Blade

He claimed that everyone came up with made-up tales, sometimes nonsensical stories.

From Washington Blade

Much of the game’s presentation hasn’t aged well, from the problematic depictions of Africa’s zombies down to the nonsensical writing.

From Washington Post

Hatcher repeated the same nonsensical plan, and we knew something was very wrong.

From Outside Online

RoboKiller takes a cheeky approach to fighting scammers by helping screen scam calls — and wasting the scammers’ time by engaging them in nonsensical conversations.

From Ozy

It is completely nonsensical, and every second is fantastic.

From The Daily Beast

The method in question, they say, is not only unproven but nonsensical.

From The Daily Beast

The twenthysomethings in the audience cheered at all the nonsensical provocation.

From The Daily Beast

Mold them into fireworks, nonsensical swirls, and random color bursts.

From The Daily Beast

Or is the line just a collection of nonsensical sounds and syllables?

From The Daily Beast

It is nonsensical to parch one's throat with thirst when a kindly Mahomedan is ready to offer pure water to drink.

From Project Gutenberg

Needless to add that this is ambitious confectioner's verse, intentionally nonsensical.

From Project Gutenberg

He appeared to find intense pleasure in this nonsensical sort of work.

From Project Gutenberg

Such reasoning is exceedingly poetical, and also (mind, also, not therefore) exceedingly nonsensical.

From Project Gutenberg

I notice there's no nonsensical chatter when you want to ask for something to eat.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• ridiculous
• senseless
• silly
• stupid