nonsense

noun

ˌnän-ˌsen(t)s How to pronounce nonsense (audio)
Definition of nonsensenext
1
as in garbage
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense told the little brat to stop his mischievous nonsense and start behaving properly the discussion about building a time machine was complete nonsense a hundred years ago, the idea that man could walk on the moon was regarded as impractical nonsense

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in babble
unintelligible or meaningless talk when you talk with your mouth full of food, everything just comes out as nonsense

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 nonsense For the no nonsense, a low-maintenance cut like a sharp collarbone lob or a style with no fussy layers frees up your time and hands to plot world domination. — Loren Savini, Allure, 14 Oct. 2026 No leader should stay as commander in chief after having the mindset to utter such nonsense. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026 Even much of that seeming nonsense, though, is ostensibly correct. — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 8 Oct. 2026 Here’s an occasion when the promotional blurb for a shirt — often seven shades of nonsense — might actually have some rooting in reality. — Nick Miller, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nonsense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nonsense
  1. garbage
  2. babble
  3. silliness
  4. prattle
  5. rubbish
  6. chatter
  7. nuts
  8. gibberish
Noun
  • Prosecutors said Aurora was one of seven children, ages 2 months to 17 years, who lived in an east San José house on Lancelot Lane that was filled with cockroaches, pet feces, garbage and mold.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Clean your car full of garbage elsewhere and don’t hold up a line of customers.
    — Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of garbage
Noun
  • And three, sometimes four, of those many waking hours are spent in the car — bouncing from home to school to her second or third job and home again — with music at full blast to drown out the babble of anxiety, most of it financial.
    — Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Companies modelled after Mary Kay that have reprised empowerment babble for their founders’ gain are mentioned but receive scarce judgment.
    — Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 15 July 2026
Definition of babble
Noun
  • Mandell never let his artistic seriousness stand in the way of his silliness.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Moments of mutual support and understanding, of belly-aching laughter and silliness, of care and deep love.
    — Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of silliness
Noun
  • The Korean Football Association was furious, responding to this juvenile, but ultimately harmless, prattle by boycotting the Korean press.
    — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 24 June 2026
  • Some of the prattle can feel like treading water, a delaying tactic until the inevitable confrontation scene.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
Definition of prattle
Noun
  • Twisted Teens are far from rubbish, but that isn't stopping them from playing in the trash for their latest music video.
    — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 7 Oct. 2026
  • This comes at the expense of no movement in the wrist, but to be fair, having the lightsaber pointed in any other direction would look rubbish.
    — Matt Gardner, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of rubbish
Noun
  • Queer Eye’s final season brought off-screen drama but no chatter beyond that.
    — Josef Adalian, Vulture, 19 Oct. 2026
  • But even as top European content industry insiders gathered to hear Bajaria speak, chatter about her future fired back up in Hollywood this week.
    — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of chatter
Noun
  • Tucker recommends foods like extra virgin olive oil, fatty fish like salmon, nuts and seeds — all staples of both diets, which also encourage eating whole grains, chicken, and plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.
    — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 14 Oct. 2026
  • If your kidneys are healthy, eating magnesium-rich foods like nuts, seeds, beans, whole grains, and leafy vegetables is unlikely to cause toxicity.
    — MD Published, Verywell Health, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of nuts
Noun
  • Dozens of countries’ names were misspelled or written in pure gibberish.
    — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Dozens of other countries' names were misspelled or written in pure gibberish.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of gibberish

Browse Nearby Words

nonsensational
nonsense
nonsensical
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nonsense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonsense. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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