beside the point

phrase

Synonyms of beside the pointnext
: irrelevant

Examples of beside the point in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The fact that most of those homes were being lived in by others, including numerous family members, friends, and several people who couldn’t afford to live elsewhere, was beside the point, at least at the moment. — George Boedecker Jr, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026 Depicting becomes a vehicle less for the task of representation than for activity, and matching drawings to videos, while irresistible, is beside the point. — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026 His 485 wins amassed across 25 seasons in Tampa are not beside the point, but the callouses and wisdom accumulated out of plain sight might count for as much. — Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 Still, the economic particulars underpinning this needless antagonism essentially are beside the point. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for beside the point

Word History

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of beside the point was in 1591

Rhymes for beside the point

See All Rhymes for beside the point

Browse Nearby Words

besides
beside the point
besiege
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Beside the point.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beside%20the%20point. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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