Digressive: meaning, definitions and examples

Appears in academic or professional settings when a discussion deviates from the main topic. Often seen in structured writing or speaking.

• The professor made a digressive comment about his trip to Europe during the lecture on quantum physics

Describes speech or writing that is lengthy and lacks a clear direction. Sometimes carries a negative connotation, implying disorganization or excessive detail.

• His rambling speech about the history of the company lost the audience's attention

Used to describe speech or writing that is long and winds through different thoughts or topics, suggesting a relaxed or aimless quality.

• Her meandering narrative included stories from her childhood, her travels, and her professional life

Often used in academic or analytical settings to describe a point or comment that is not directly related to the main topic but may still provide some relevant insight.

• Her tangential analysis brought in perspectives from psychology which were somewhat related to the main concept of the paper

Use this word when someone is straying away from the main topic or subject, often in a conversation or written work. It usually implies that the deviation is temporary.

• The professor's lecture was highly digressive, wandering from the main topic frequently.
• Her digressive style of writing makes it hard to follow the main argument.

This term is used when paths, ideas, or opinions are moving apart or becoming different from each other. It often has a neutral or slightly positive connotation and can be used in discussions about opinions, theories, or roads.

• The two scientists presented divergent theories about the phenomenon.
• Their paths in life became increasingly divergent after they graduated from college.

This word is best used when there's a literal or figurative shift away from a direct path or route, often implying a longer or more complicated way. It can be used for both physical journeys and discussions.

• Due to road construction, our trip involved several unexpected detouring along back roads.
• The meeting started to get off track with a lot of detouring from the agenda.

This word is appropriate when there is a departure from an established route, course, norm, or standard. It can be neutral but might have a negative connotation depending on the context.

• The experiment’s results were surprising, significantly deviating from our predictions.
• He was punished for deviating from the company's strict dress code policies.