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 My fellow relishers of Trowbridge nonsense, today is our day of jubilee. — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026 After a strong start, Kitao Sakurai’s Capcom adaptation nosedives into nonsense. — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026 His attorneys claim that, when searching for Murkerson’s vehicle, sheriff’s deputies entered nonsense rationales. — Cyrus Farivar, ArsTechnica, 14 Oct. 2026 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 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
  • What makes a successful scooper Professional scoopers typically use basic tools like a rake, a dustpan lined with a garbage bag and a garden sprayer to sanitize tools in between jobs.
    — Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Pan Yan The substance is integrated into a transparent, medium-sized insert designed to fit onto a garbage bin lid.
    — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 19 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
  • After maybe 10,000 individual motes of noise that chatter like mouse clicks, the song ends with a slow, jangly fadeout.
    — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Schulman added that SpaceX’s mobile carrier strategy is already apparent, citing industry chatter.
    — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of chatter
Noun
  • Healthy ingredients like nuts and fresh fruit are often just a garnish or topping.
    — Anahad O’Connor, Washington Post, 22 Oct. 2026
  • My sweet potato casserole recipe swaps the nuts for crispy, sweet-and-salty cornflakes—the marshmallows can stay.
    — Zoe Denenberg, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 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 28 Oct. 2026.

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