kind of nonsensical

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "kind of nonsensical" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that lacks sense or logic, often in a casual or informal context. Example: "The plot of that movie was kind of nonsensical, making it hard to follow the story."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Money and status have all too often been the dominant yardsticks during a musical decade characterised by the kind of nonsensical self-promotion more in keeping with Apprentice contestants - endless, specious claims to be "the biggest" or "the best" from yet another Argos U2 or Primark Oasis.

The Guardian - Music

It's notable that one of the most radical eccentrics of modern rap – Lil B, who raps over ambient music, tours as a positive-thinking guru, and along with Soulja Boy pioneered the kind of nonsensical persona that set the stage for the likes of Young Thug – emerged from a Californian skater-boho milieu.

The Guardian - Music

"They are not and we will not fall into that kind of nonsensical trap".

BBC

But the idea that creating innovation within their companies — doing it in a way that's acquisition only — I think is kind of nonsensical.

TechCrunch

I would expect that kind of nonsensical fear mongering from a Republican, but I'm disappointed when it comes from a fellow Democrat.

Huffington Post

I've come to Hyde Park's Speakers' Corner expecting to hear the kind of nonsensical ramblings you'd find under a YouTube video about the MH370 disappearance, but what I've witnessed so far has been so much more absurd.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

The Sydney Morning Herald's Sam de Brito disagrees: "The idea that people who search for pictures of Lawrence are participating in the violation of her body and 'enjoying an ongoing assault' reeks of the kind of spooky nonsensical logic that insists you steal a person's soul if you photograph them".

BBC

Although much of Silent Mind seems to have been done in shades of red, white, and black, it makes astonishing use of the kind of bizarre, nonsensical images which can pepper our dreams.

Huffington Post

Mostly it is joyfully nonsensical, the kind of thing that a child might make up if you fed her too many graham crackers and took all of her toys away.

The New Yorker

Its Prevent product, in use at Oracle, Synopsys and Sun, works as a kind of "grammar checker," looking for nonsensical mathematical functions, racing through thousands of possible permutations in seconds.

Forbes

For every subway car with a kaleidoscope mural of admirable intricacy, there are a dozen street corners with structures that bear a kind of child's scrawl of succinct, nonsensical monikers that merely advertise the creator's ubiquity.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "kind of nonsensical" to soften a critique, suggesting something is somewhat illogical without being overly harsh. It's less direct than simply stating something is "nonsensical".

Common error

While "kind of nonsensical" is acceptable, overuse can make your writing sound hesitant. Vary your language by using stronger synonyms like "illogical" or "absurd" for more impactful statements.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "kind of nonsensical" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It serves to describe something as lacking sense or being illogical to a certain degree. As Ludwig AI points out, it's a grammatically correct and usable expression.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "kind of nonsensical" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe something as somewhat illogical or absurd. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is acceptable in written English. It is most commonly found in news and media, but tends towards an informal register. When using it, be mindful of overusing the phrase and consider stronger synonyms for impactful writing. Remember that the "kind of" softens the adjective, making it less direct than "nonsensical" alone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quite absurd

Direct synonym swap; replacing only "rather" with "quite".

somewhat illogical

Replaces "nonsensical" with a more formal term for lacking logic; implies a reasoned but flawed approach.

rather absurd

Substitutes "nonsensical" with "absurd", emphasizing the ridiculous or unreasonable nature of something.

slightly irrational

Replaces "nonsensical" with "irrational", suggesting a deviation from reason or sound judgment.

somewhat preposterous

Uses "preposterous" to highlight the outlandish or unbelievable quality of something considered nonsensical.

a bit senseless

Emphasizes the lack of purpose or meaning behind something, similar to being nonsensical.

mildly incoherent

Focuses on the lack of clarity and logical connection in something nonsensical.

sort of meaningless

Highlights the absence of significance or importance, akin to lacking sense.

vaguely unreasonable

Implies a lack of reason or justification, suggesting something is not sensible.

pretty foolish

Focuses on the silly or unwise nature of something nonsensical, often implying a lack of intelligence.

FAQs

How can I use "kind of nonsensical" in a sentence?

You can use "kind of nonsensical" to describe something that lacks clear logic or meaning. For instance, "The plot of the movie was "kind of nonsensical", making it difficult to follow".

What phrases are similar to "kind of nonsensical"?

Alternatives to "kind of nonsensical" include "somewhat illogical", "rather absurd", or "slightly irrational". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "kind of nonsensical" formal or informal?

"Kind of nonsensical" leans towards the informal side. For formal writing, consider using more precise and direct alternatives like "illogical" or "incoherent".

What is the difference between "nonsensical" and "kind of nonsensical"?

Adding "kind of" softens the statement, making it less direct. "Nonsensical" implies a complete lack of sense, while "kind of nonsensical" suggests something is only partially or somewhat lacking in logic.