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

“Let’s get off the subject of China, let’s talk about sitting around the table.”

From Slate • Oct. 22, 2020

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

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

From Washington Post • Nov. 26, 2015

Sometimes he sheered off the subject, or turned the conversation by pretending not to understand; but generally he answered all I asked most frankly.

From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker

off the subject

Example Sentences

Related Words