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 Even after watching replays, the ref stuck with his original call that Mbappe had initiated the contact, which was palpable nonsense. — Graham Scott, New York Times, 22 July 2026 Low interest rates let venture capitalists fund nonsense web businesses and let banks provide junk loans to borrowers with terrible credit. — Annie Lowrey, The Atlantic, 21 July 2026 His music often transforms a nonsense line or a passing thought into something profound. — Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 16 July 2026 The show, created by Stephen Hillenburg, made its official debut after that on July 17, 1999, and it's been nautical nonsense from that day on. — Bianca Harris, USA Today, 15 July 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
  • Garbage in, garbage out has never been more true or more expensive.
    — Vaibhav Gujral, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
  • Avoid feeding your dog high-fat foods, including table scraps, and prevent them from getting into garbage.
    — The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 July 2026
Definition of garbage
Noun
  • 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
  • The film almost completely drops any and all scientific babble from the book in favor of character development, action sequences, and emotional gut punches.
    — Matthew Razak, Space.com, 23 Mar. 2026
Definition of babble
Noun
  • Minions & Monsters kept its familiar chaos intact, but its turn toward sentiment may have left behind some of the pure silliness that built its core audience at home.
    — David Deal, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
  • Karaoke, whether at a public bar or in one of the private rooms available in most cities, is commitment-free silliness and one of the easiest ways to shake off a long week.
    — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 1 July 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
  • 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
  • Only construction waste will be accepted at the landfill such as, brush and rubbish, concrete, brick, rock, wood, paper, plastics, cardboard and roofing shingles and tiles.
    — Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 July 2026
Definition of rubbish
Noun
  • When Zayn lost the WWE title to Punk less than two weeks after winning it, there was a lot of chatter that he had been shortchanged and would never get a crack at the WWE title again.
    — Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Out on the field, chatter started from fans above the Tigers’ dugout.
    — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of chatter
Noun
  • Add in the textural blend of crunch from the nuts and chewy from the pineapple, and this has quickly become my go-to midday desk snack.
    — Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Nearly half of the country’s vegetables and more than three-quarters of its fruits and nuts come from California, according to the state.
    — Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026
Definition of nuts
Noun
  • Once talkies came into play, though, the Minions — who can only communicate with each other in nonsensical gibberish — quickly find themselves out of work.
    — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • With its collaborations now stretching to Japan, via Nintendo, a globalization defines Illumination — fitting given the international word salad gibberish of the Minions.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 June 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 3 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of nonsense for Spanish Speakers

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