English Dictionary

NONSENSICAL

Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

IPA (US): 

 Dictionary entry overview: What does nonsensical mean? 

NONSENSICAL (adjective)
  The adjective NONSENSICAL has 2 senses:

1. so unreasonable as to invite derisionplay

2. having no intelligible meaningplay

  Familiarity information: NONSENSICAL used as an adjective is rare.


 Dictionary entry details 


NONSENSICAL (adjective)


Sense 1

Meaning:

So unreasonable as to invite derision

Synonyms:

absurd; cockeyed; derisory; idiotic; laughable; ludicrous; nonsensical; preposterous; ridiculous

Context example:

her conceited assumption of universal interest in her rather dull children was ridiculous

Similar:

foolish (devoid of good sense or judgment)


Sense 2

Meaning:

Having no intelligible meaning

Synonyms:

nonsense; nonsensical

Context example:

a nonsensical jumble of words

Similar:

meaningless; nonmeaningful (having no meaning or direction or purpose)

Derivation:

nonsensicality (a message that seems to convey no meaning)


 Context examples 


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'.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Very nonsensical to come at all!

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

I will have you BOTH go, said Mrs. Dashwood; these objections are nonsensical.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

“Good gracious me, Peggotty,” returned my mother, “what a nonsensical woman you are! when you know that she took offence at the poor dear boy's ever being born at all.”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

When I have made up my mind, I have made it; and Henrietta seemed entirely to have made up hers to call at Winthrop to-day; and yet, she was as near giving it up, out of nonsensical complaisance!

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Her mother only scolded her for being nonsensical.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

It's a nonsensical notion of mine, and I'm not going to give up to it.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

It's so nonsensical!

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

And one day when Anne was walking with only the Musgroves, one of them after talking of rank, people of rank, and jealousy of rank, said, I have no scruple of observing to you, how nonsensical some persons are about their place, because all the world knows how easy and indifferent you are about it; but I wish anybody could give Mary a hint that it would be a great deal better if she were not so very tenacious, especially if she would not be always putting herself forward to take place of mamma.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

And with no one to speak to about what I felt, no Jane to comfort me and say that I had not been so very weak and vain and nonsensical as I knew I had!

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"Hard cases make bad law." (English proverb)

"The water that does not flow is not fit to drink." (Albanian proverb)

"He beat me and cried, and went before me to complain." (Arabic proverb)

"Better safe than sorry." (Croatian proverb)



ALSO IN ENGLISH DICTIONARY:


© 2000-2023 AudioEnglish.org | AudioEnglish® is a Registered Trademark | Terms of use and privacy policy
Contact