Synonyms for

Tangential

Verb / tæˈndʒenʃʌl / Another word for tangential — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

relating to or along a tangent; diverging from a previous course or line of thought

Synonyms & similar words

digressive digressive off-topic divergent deviant peripheral sidetracked extraneous irrelevant unrelated incidental accidental superficial minor secondary subsidiary parenthetical sideways oblique slanted crooked

Example sentences

  1. The conversation went off on a tangential topic.
  2. Her response was tangential to the question asked.
  3. The movie plot was tangential to the book it was based on.
  4. His comment was tangential to the current discussion.
  5. The lecture went off on a tangential tangent.

Quotes

  • Science is a way of thinking much more than it is a body of knowledge. Its goal is to find out how the world works, to seek what regularities there may be, and to discover what makes things tick. The art of knowing is knowing what to ignore. The tangential is more powerful than the axial.
  • The tangential force is the force that is perpendicular to the direction of motion.
  • The more things are forbidden, the more popular they become.

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