digressive
/dai'gresiv/
Definition
- Adjective:
- Departing from the main subject: Describes speech, writing, or remarks that temporarily leave the central topic to discuss other, often loosely related, matters.
- Covering a wide range of subjects: Characterizes a style of communication that is wandering, not strictly focused, and may include various tangential topics.
Usage
- The word digressive is used to describe a manner of speaking or writing. It often has a neutral or slightly negative connotation, suggesting a lack of focus or conciseness.
- It is typically applied to narratives, lectures, essays, or conversations.
Examples
- The professor's lecture was interesting but highly digressive, touching on philosophy, history, and his personal travels before returning to the core topic of physics.
- Her storytelling style is charmingly digressive, filled with anecdotes that, while entertaining, sometimes obscure the main point.
- The committee meeting became unproductive due to the chair's digressive comments on unrelated administrative issues.
Advanced Usage
- In literary criticism: A digressive narrative technique can be used intentionally to provide background, create suspense, or offer social commentary, as seen in novels like .
- In formal analysis: A digressive argument in an academic paper might be criticized for weakening the thesis unless such tangents are clearly justified and reintegrated.
Variants and Related Words
- Digress (verb): To leave the main subject temporarily in speech or writing.
- He tends to digress when telling a story.
- Digression (noun): The act of digressing; a passage or section that departs from the central theme.
- The long anecdote was an entertaining digression.
Synonyms
- Tangential: Merely touching or slightly connected to the main matter.
- Discursive: Moving from topic to topic without a strict structure.
- Rambling: Lengthy and confused or inconsequential.
- Excursive: Constituting a digression.
Antonyms
- Concise: Giving a lot of information clearly and in a few words.
- Focused: Concentrated on a particular subject.
- Relevant: Closely connected or appropriate to the matter at hand.
- Succinct: Briefly and clearly expressed.
Related Phrases and Idioms
- To go off on a tangent: This idiom is a common verbal equivalent of being digressive.
- He went off on a tangent about his vacation instead of answering the question.
Adjective
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(of e.g. speech and writing) tending to depart from the main point or cover a wide range of subjects
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amusingly digressive with satirical thrusts at women's fashions among other things
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a rambling discursive book
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his excursive remarks
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a rambling speech about this and that
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of superficial relevance if any
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a digressive allusion to the day of the week
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a tangential remark
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