nonstarter
noun
non·start·er
ˌnän-ˈstär-tər 
1
: one that does not start
2
: someone or something that is not productive or effective
his son has been, in politics a nonstarter—
Anthony Lejeune
Anthony LejeuneExamples of nonstarter in a Sentence
She's the leading scorer among the team's nonstarters.
Recent Examples on the Web
Several ideas have been floated in the past, but the one currently gaining currency would station thousands of European troops in Ukraine, though not under a NATO banner, to serve as a deterrent and rapid reaction force should Russia invade again — an apparent nonstarter for Moscow.
—Samya Kullab and Emma Burrows, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2025
Auburn extended the lead to 26 halfway through the second half, but that was when Gates made a change in his lineup, subbing in an entire five of nonstarters that included Marques Warrick.
—Grant Salsman, Kansas City Star, 5 Jan. 2025
This step will weed out the nonstarters and focus on high-impact projects.
4.
—Naveen Zutshi, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024
Conversations around the 51st state are a nonstarter.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 16 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nonstarter
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Samya Kullab and Emma Burrows, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2025
Auburn extended the lead to 26 halfway through the second half, but that was when Gates made a change in his lineup, subbing in an entire five of nonstarters that included Marques Warrick.
—Grant Salsman, Kansas City Star, 5 Jan. 2025
This step will weed out the nonstarters and focus on high-impact projects.
4.
—Naveen Zutshi, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024
Conversations around the 51st state are a nonstarter.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 16 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nonstarter
Cite this Entry
“Nonstarter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonstarter. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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