TANGENTIAL Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

tangential

adjective

Definition of tangential

as in irrelevant

having little to do with the matter at hand Your point is tangential to the main objective of this meeting so please save it for later.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar 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 tangential Both that experience and his tangential involvement in the Amanda-West drama has affected his priorities going into the upcoming season, both in his love life and his friendships. — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 15 June 2026 Other undisclosed connections are more tangential. — Max Tani, semafor.com, 15 June 2026 The Houthis made a similar threat during the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip and killed at least nine mariners and sank four ships in over 100 attacks, often targeting vessels with tangential or no ties to Israel. — Jon Gambrell, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026 There have been a few tangential PigPen sightings in the state before now. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 31 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for tangential

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tangential

Adjective

Catherine and Alice are such complicated figures that the word likable seems irrelevant to them.

— Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 31 Aug. 2026
Markets may decide that the long lead time required to rebuild Venezuelan production makes the agreement largely irrelevant to near-term supply.

— Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of irrelevant

Adjective

That means mathematicians can approximate these rotations with a straight line that touches the circle at just one point — a tangent line.

— Leila Sloman, Quanta Magazine, 3 Dec. 2025
The slope, or steepness, of the tangent line measures how quickly the function is changing at that point.

— Solomon Adams, WIRED, 23 Feb. 2025

Definition of tangent

Adjective

In the first incident, Attwell will have had to keep his eyes down on the tackle, which is late and deliberate, and so loses his peripheral vision that might have picked up Munoz breaking into the area.

— Graham Scott, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
For Joan and Luis, these activities were not peripheral to their Jewish lives.

— Laura Yares, The Conversation, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of peripheral

Browse Nearby Words

tangent

tangential

tangentially

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Style

“Tangential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tangential. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of tangential

adjective

Example Sentences

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