full of nonsense

USAGE SUMMARY

"full of nonsense" is a correct phrase and can be used in written English.
It means that something is filled with nonsense or absurdity. Example sentence: The speech was full of nonsense and the audience couldn't understand the main point.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

This time, he said simply, "It's so full of nonsense it's not even funny.

The New Yorker

Of course, the book itself is full of nonsense (as is most of Kircher's oeuvre).

The New York Times - Books

Full of nonsense, all over the place, lesbian lizards and shocking cgi.

Independent

It was full of nonsense language, but was also intended as a protest against religious doctrines and tsarist absolutism.

The Guardian - Arts

He recalls taking stock of himself at 30, and finding himself "full of nonsense, preposterous in many ways".

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Last preseason, Van Gundy would utter expletives to point out when he thought his team was full of nonsense.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

The 13 songs on Weezer's fourth album, "Maladroit" (Geffen), clock in at under 34 minutes (truncated video clips fill out the CD), and they're full of nonsense-syllable hooks and classic power-pop complaints: "I can't say that you love me, so I cry and I'm hurting," Rivers Cuomo sings in his earnestly wounded voice.

The New York Times - Arts

When you're through, your sheet of paper may be so full of ridiculous nonsense that you'll be disgusted.

The New Yorker

7. The immediate consequence of the grammar test introduced into Year 6 is that teachers are buying textbooks that are full of ungrammatical nonsense.

The Guardian - Opinion

Yes, it's full of aspirational nonsense, but, hell, there's nothing wrong with a little dream once in a while.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Either way, it's better than a book crammed full of waffling nonsense, which is what I found to be encouraged in my early education.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "full of nonsense", consider the context to ensure the level of formality is appropriate. While widely understood, it can sometimes sound informal. For more formal settings, consider using alternatives like "replete with absurdity" or "lacking substance".

Common error

Avoid using "full of nonsense" in highly formal or professional writing where a more sophisticated vocabulary is expected. Alternatives like "fallacious" or "unfounded" may be more suitable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "full of nonsense" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It describes something as being characterized by foolishness, absurdity, or lacking in substance. This is supported by Ludwig, which confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "full of nonsense" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression, though Ludwig indicates its prevalence is more toward the uncommon side. Functioning as an adjectival phrase, it's used to express criticism or disagreement by labeling something as absurd or lacking substance. While versatile, it leans towards a neutral to informal register, making it less suitable for strictly formal or scientific contexts. More formal alternatives include phrases like "replete with absurdity" or "lacking substance". According to Ludwig, the phrase sees frequent usage in News & Media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

replete with absurdity

Changes the wording to sound more formal and literary. Emphasizes the characteristic of absurdity.

teeming with foolishness

Replaces "nonsense" with "foolishness", altering the tone to suggest silliness or lack of intelligence.

overflowing with drivel

Employs "drivel" which implies meaningless or nonsensical talk, suggesting a lower quality of content.

laden with balderdash

Utilizes "balderdash", an older term for nonsense, making the phrase sound more old-fashioned or humorous.

brimming with poppycock

Switches to "poppycock", a more whimsical term for nonsense, creating a lighter and less serious tone.

abundant in rubbish

Substitutes "rubbish" for "nonsense", providing a British English alternative that means trash or worthless things.

saturated with bunkum

Replaces "nonsense" with the word "bunkum", meaning insincere or foolish talk.

awash in hogwash

Uses the word "hogwash" instead of "nonsense", giving an impression of something worthless or untrue.

thick with twaddle

Employs "twaddle" to indicate trivial or foolish talk, implying that the content is boring and pointless.

dense with tommyrot

Utilizes "tommyrot" to replace "nonsense", giving a slightly more dated or folksy feel to the expression.

FAQs

How can I use "full of nonsense" in a sentence?

You can use "full of nonsense" to describe something lacking substance or truth. For instance, "The politician's speech was "full of nonsense" and didn't address the real issues."

What are some alternatives to saying "full of nonsense"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "replete with absurdity", "lacking substance", or "utterly false".

Is "full of nonsense" appropriate for formal writing?

While generally understood, "full of nonsense" is more suitable for informal or neutral contexts. In formal writing, consider more sophisticated alternatives like "fallacious" or "unfounded".

What's the difference between "full of nonsense" and "misleading"?

"Full of nonsense" generally implies a lack of coherence or substance, while "misleading" suggests an intent to deceive. Something ""full of nonsense"" might simply be illogical, while something "misleading" is designed to create a false impression.