non-sequitur
Logic's broken link
A non-sequitur is a statement or conclusion that doesn't logically follow from what came before: He asked about dinner plans and she replied that Neptune has fourteen moons.
In logic, it's a formal fallacy where the conclusion isn't supported by the premises.
More loosely, any abrupt or irrelevant remark qualifies: His speech was full of non-sequiturs.
From Latin for "it does not follow."
Lacking orderly sequence
- unrelatedHaving no link
- misfitOne who doesn't fit in
- discordantLacking musical agreement
- irrelevantNot pertinent
unconnected · unfitting · mismatched · jarring · out of place · inappropriate · ill-fitting · clashing
Contrary to valid reasoning
- nonsensicalWithout coherent meaning
- preposterousCompletely contrary to reason
- ludicrousAbsurdly unreasonable or inappropriate
- absurdityWildly illogical quality
irrational · inane · surreal · bizarre · farcical · zany · outlandish · senseless
To break a connection
- awkwardLacking grace or ease
- interruptionBreak in continuity
- topic changeShifting the subject
- derailmentLeaving the intended track
blurt · out of nowhere · off-the-wall · left field · conversation stopper
Contrary to valid reasoning
- fallaciousContaining faulty reasoning
- sophismMisleading logical trickery
- invalidWithout legal force
- flawedHaving faults or imperfections
erroneous · specious · spurious · unsound · faulty reasoning · logical error · red herring · bad logic
Veering off topic
- asideBrief theatrical digression
- diversionRedirection of attention
- departureAct of going away
- deviationDeparture from expected path
detour · rambling · meandering · straying · wandering · sidetrack · parenthetical · excursus
Humor's final delivery
- jokeHumorous statement seeking laughter
- humorAmusing quality
- gagMouth restraint or jest
- quipBrief, clever remark
one-liner · zinger · twist · jest · wisecrack · absurdist · Monty Python · deadpan
Not anticipated beforehand
- bewildermentState of being baffled
- startlingCausing sudden surprise
- bafflementMental state of confusion
- confoundingCausing surprise or confusion
disorienting · perplexing · jarring · blindside · curveball · out of left field · caught off guard · double-take
disjointed
Lacking orderly sequence
- unrelatedHaving no link
- misfitOne who doesn't fit in
- discordantLacking musical agreement
irrelevant · unconnected · unfitting · mismatched · jarring · out of place · inappropriate · ill-fitting · clashing · inconsistent
illogical
Contrary to valid reasoning
- nonsensicalWithout coherent meaning
- preposterousCompletely contrary to reason
- ludicrousAbsurdly unreasonable or inappropriate
absurdity · irrational · inane · surreal · bizarre · farcical · zany · outlandish · senseless · ridiculous
disconnect
To break a connection
- awkwardLacking grace or ease
- interruptionBreak in continuity
- topic changeShifting the subject
derailment · blurt · out of nowhere · off-the-wall · left field · conversation stopper
illogical
Contrary to valid reasoning
- fallaciousContaining faulty reasoning
- sophismMisleading logical trickery
- invalidWithout legal force
flawed · erroneous · specious · spurious · unsound · faulty reasoning · logical error · red herring · bad logic
digression
Veering off topic
deviation · detour · rambling · meandering · straying · wandering · sidetrack · parenthetical · excursus · stream of consciousness
punchline
Humor's final delivery
quip · one-liner · zinger · twist · jest · wisecrack · absurdist · Monty Python · deadpan · surreal comedy
unexpected
Not anticipated beforehand
- bewildermentState of being baffled
- startlingCausing sudden surprise
- bafflementMental state of confusion
confounding · disorienting · perplexing · jarring · blindside · curveball · out of left field · caught off guard · double-take · head-scratcher
- Absurd Humorsurreal humor, non sequitur, random humor, dream logic, incongruity
- comedycomedy, jokes, humor, puns, sarcasm
- comedy bitsbit, skit, sketch, gag, shtick
non-sequiturlogical conclusion
logical consequence · valid argument · sequitur · entailment · corollary
sequence, consequence, consequently, subsequent, subsequently, consequential, sequences, nonsequential, inconsequent