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Dictionary.com

off the subject

ADJECTIVE
beside the point
Synonyms
WEAK
beside the question extraneous immaterial inapplicable incidental inconsequential insignificant irrelevant nihil ad rem not at issue not important not to the purpose pointless unimportant unrelated wide of the mark wide of the point
ADJECTIVE
extraneous
Synonyms
STRONGEST
additional immaterial incidental nonessential superfluous supplementary unconnected unnecessary unrelated
WEAK
accidental adventitious beside the point extra foreign impertinent inadmissible inapplicable inapposite inappropriate inessential needless peripheral pointless redundant unessential
Antonyms
STRONGEST
essential important material necessary needed relevant
WEAK
appropriate basic integral national native pertinent
ADVERB
neither here nor there
Synonyms
WEAK
beside the point immaterial impertinent inapplicable irrelevant nonessential not at issue nothing to do with the case unessential

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

At the mention of Arenado rumors this week, Muncy again brushed off the subject.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 28, 2025

Just as he went to turn the podcast off, the subject changed to the painter Bob Ross — by then, a well known A.S.M.R. trigger.

From New York Times • Apr. 4, 2019

How do I get them to back off the subject without hurting anyone?

From Slate • Feb. 5, 2018

No matter what questions I asked, I couldn’t get him off the subject.

From Washington Post • Nov. 26, 2015

He got me off the subject by making a joke.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey