totally nonsensical

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "totally nonsensical" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that makes no sense or is completely illogical. Example: "His explanation for the sudden change in plans was totally nonsensical and left everyone confused."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Then there are the totally nonsensical.

The Guardian - Money

But poverty is a totally nonsensical requirement for left-leaning political engagement.

The Guardian - Opinion

But in recent years, he said, most stock prices there had become "just totally nonsensical".

The New York Times

Still a great, and totally nonsensical, pop song; Don Was could teach Crazy Frog a thing or two.

The Guardian - Music

The students would need to re-engineer R. Palustris to give up its food — something that in nature would be totally nonsensical.

The New York Times - Magazine

Because of the speed of transmission and transformation of jump rope rhymes, a logical chant may appear a short time later in totally nonsensical form.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

A ten-minute walk east on Guanghua Lu brought us to the "Winterless" building, one of the countless 25 story high, totally nondescript buildings of its sort in Beijing with a completely nonsensical name.

Vice

"It is completely nonsensical".

The New York Times - Tech

It's completely nonsensical.

Vice

He seemed trapped in his agitated state and proceeded to talk about the college ranking system for twelve uninterrupted minutes, describing it as "ludicrous," "idiotic," "totally corrupt," "completely perverse," and "just nonsensical".

The New Yorker

Not that you needed to, your numeracy skills are sufficient for you to be totally aware that your present nonsensical application of averages has nothing whatsoever to do with what is actually happening in the here and now.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "totally nonsensical" is acceptable, consider the audience and context. More formal settings might benefit from alternatives like "completely illogical" or "utterly absurd".

Common error

While "totally" intensifies "nonsensical", avoid stacking multiple intensifiers (e.g., "completely totally nonsensical"), as this weakens the impact and sounds redundant. Choose the strongest single intensifier or rephrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "totally nonsensical" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe something as lacking reason or coherence. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is considered correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

12%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Encyclopedias

2%

Science

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "totally nonsensical" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed phrase used to express that something is utterly devoid of sense or logic. Ludwig AI verifies that the phrase is correct and appropriate in a variety of writing contexts. While broadly applicable, writers should be mindful of audience and purpose, opting for more formal alternatives like "completely illogical" or "utterly absurd" in more formal settings. The phrase finds its primary use in News & Media, Academia, and more. Avoid overuse of intensifiers to maintain a clear and impactful message. Being a frequent expression, "totally nonsensical" serves as a reminder of the importance of clear and coherent communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utterly absurd

Replaces 'nonsensical' with 'absurd', emphasizing the ridiculousness of the statement.

completely illogical

Substitutes 'nonsensical' with 'illogical', highlighting the lack of logical reasoning.

patently ridiculous

Replaces the whole expression with 'patently ridiculous' to emphasize obvious absurdity.

entirely preposterous

Uses 'preposterous' instead of 'nonsensical' to suggest extreme foolishness.

wholly irrational

Replaces 'nonsensical' with 'irrational', focusing on the absence of reason.

absolutely senseless

Emphasizes the lack of meaning or purpose, using 'senseless' instead of 'nonsensical'.

blatantly absurd

Uses 'blatantly' to emphasize the obvious nature of the absurdity.

manifestly foolish

Replaces 'nonsensical' with 'foolish', highlighting the lack of wisdom.

transparently idiotic

Substitutes 'nonsensical' with 'idiotic', indicating a high degree of stupidity.

palpably inane

Replaces 'nonsensical' with 'inane', emphasizing the lack of significance.

FAQs

How can I use "totally nonsensical" in a sentence?

You can use "totally nonsensical" to describe something that lacks logic or sense. For example: "His explanation for the events was "totally nonsensical" and confusing."

What are some alternatives to "totally nonsensical"?

You can use alternatives like "completely illogical", "utterly absurd", or "patently ridiculous" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "totally nonsensical" formal or informal?

"Totally nonsensical" leans towards the informal side. In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "entirely unreasonable" or "completely unfounded".

What's the difference between "totally nonsensical" and "slightly nonsensical"?

"Totally nonsensical" indicates a complete lack of sense or logic, whereas "slightly nonsensical" suggests that something is only partially illogical or somewhat absurd. The degree of absurdity varies significantly.