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

Candidates always wander off the subject in an effort to stay on message, and the moderators need to lasso them right back to where they should be.

From Washington Post • Sep. 13, 2016

Bod liked Miss Borrows, and the coziness of her little crypt, and that she could all-too-easily be led off the subject.

From "The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman

off the subject

Example Sentences

Related Words