1
as in illusion
a conception or image created by the imagination and having no objective reality
the arctic circle is a nonentity—you won't see it on the way to the north pole
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nobody
a person of no importance or influence
was so quiet he was almost a nonentity at the meeting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nonentity
But at its peak, Insys was also a fascinating study in how a nonentity could become a major player by using institutionalized practices.
—
Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
And Putin, shockingly, after years and years of indefatigably suppressing alternatives, of promoting nonentities to his inner circle to ensure no one could threaten him, has allowed one to take shape.
—Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2023
Europe has been a geopolitical nonentity since the 1990s.
—Max Bergmann, Foreign Affairs, 20 Aug. 2020
The mocha frappe had a stinging, strong syrup flavor; the caramel tasted like almost nothing; the chicory was somehow even more of a nonentity.
—Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for nonentity
Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
And Putin, shockingly, after years and years of indefatigably suppressing alternatives, of promoting nonentities to his inner circle to ensure no one could threaten him, has allowed one to take shape.
—Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2023
Europe has been a geopolitical nonentity since the 1990s.
—Max Bergmann, Foreign Affairs, 20 Aug. 2020
The mocha frappe had a stinging, strong syrup flavor; the caramel tasted like almost nothing; the chicory was somehow even more of a nonentity.
—Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for nonentity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nonentity
Noun
-
Then finding a solution for them, but more give them the illusion of choice.—
Sangeeta Singh-Kurtz,
Vulture,
4 Mar. 2025
-
The 400-year-old fort is famed for its mirror work on the walls and 3D carvings creating illusions on its pillars.—
Shalbha Sarda,
Architectural Digest,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Those free passes were a frequent abuse of the law in the past, and low-profile corporate nobodies got away with them for years.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Feb. 2025
-
The owner, knowing that his establishment is at capacity and taking into consideration the troublesome nobodies who are seeking entry, brusquely sends them away.—
Andy Biggs,
Newsweek,
24 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Winning a World Series is every player's dream, but nobody will shy away from winning an MVP or Cy Young.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
Newsweek,
26 Feb. 2025
-
In 1881, a young businessman named John Taylor moved from Columbus, Ohio, to Kansas City with a dream of starting his own store.—
Randy Mason,
Kansas City Star,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Atom and Claudette with recognizable humanity, the film’s artistry turns them into ciphers and symbols of the numbing effects of ethnic conflict.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2025
-
Lively’s Lily Bloom is a cipher for the millennial woman resisting the pull of becoming her boomer mother.—
Doreen St. Félix,
The New Yorker,
13 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The fantasy relevance for tight ends as slow as Helm just isn’t there.—
Steve Bradshaw,
Forbes,
1 Mar. 2025
-
An arena spectacle with WWE auras is unusual for Dungeons & Dragons, the famously nerdy tabletop game of fantasy heroics and lucky (or unlucky) rolls of dice.—
Eric Francisco,
Rolling Stone,
1 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Emperor tamarins are dwarf monkeys with whiskers that resemble a white moustache.—
Robert Higgs,
cleveland,
1 Feb. 2023
-
The dwarf variety grows to be about 5 to 7 feet, ideal for a small garden or accent in a room with limited space.—
Bryce Jones,
Better Homes & Gardens,
24 Jan. 2023
Noun
-
The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s new exhibition (March 25) takes a wary view of its own contents, which span half a millennium, arguing that the West acted out its daydreams of a docile Orient one cup-and-saucer at a time.—
Shauna Lyon,
The New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2025
-
If Viner and Rickman's selections are representative, Corrie was a compelling diarist, writing a blend of idealism, daydream and detailed observation.—
Jim Higgins,
Journal Sentinel,
21 Sep. 2024
Noun
-
Also, Holloway is making his permanent move to lightweight, and this rematch could be a surprise hit for the UFC.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes,
26 Feb. 2025
-
Most base layers will be in the 160-grams-per-square-meter (lightweight) to 260-gsm range (heavyweight or expedition weight).—
Scott Gilbertson,
WIRED,
22 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nonentity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonentity. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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