non sequitur

noun

Definition of non sequiturnext
as in tangent
a statement that is not connected in a logical or clear way to anything said before it We were talking about the new restaurant when she threw in some non sequitur about her dog.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of non sequitur The non sequiturs, or seeming non sequiturs (like Carol moonlighting as a baseball umpire despite having little knowledge of baseball) abound. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 27 Feb. 2026 Brown kept getting sidetracked with tangents and non sequiturs, on topics both momentous and random. — Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 25 Feb. 2026 These sequences can be beguilingly attractive, but their inclusions are complete non sequiturs — blink-and-you’ll-miss-it digressions toward a more engaging film. — Blake Simons, IndieWire, 18 Feb. 2026 Some, like the rapper, passed with flying colors, while others weren't sure what to make of the non sequitur. — Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for non sequitur
Recent Examples of Synonyms for non sequitur
  1. tangent
  2. nonsense
  3. bunk
  4. absurdity
Noun
  • After the event was disrupted by an armed intruder, the Administration and the association scheduled a July do-over, where Trump delivered a rambling speech indulging seemingly every tangent that sprang to mind, but his contempt remained apparent.
    — Jelani Cobb, New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2026
  • That got Cristobal off on a tangent about the type of players that UM targets.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of tangent
Noun
  • Same goes for Chock Chapple (6), because life’s too short to be typing that nonsense in a search field.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 30 Sep. 2026
  • What Trump is serving up is precisely the kind of paternalistic nonsense that women have fought against for the past century, now applied to nation states.
    — Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of nonsense
Noun
  • Kramnic was unable to climb on to the top bunk without injuring his knees and back.
    — Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Although my room had six bunks, my only roommate was a quiet man from Switzerland who was also traveling from LA to San Francisco, but by bike.
    — David G. Allan, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of bunk
Noun
  • Sadly, Showalter and the scriptwriter, Nick Antosca, are completely unable to meet these demands, with the result that the absurdities are all on the screen.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2026
  • None of this ever accumulates much weight, however, since the conflicts are all dulled by the one-note absurdity of the farcical plotting.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of absurdity

Browse Nearby Words

nonsequential
non sequitur
non sequiturs
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Cite this Entry

“Non sequitur.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/non%20sequitur. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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