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Tangential

usgb/tænˈdʒenʃl/Volume
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Slightly Related

Use 'tangential' when mentioning details that connect to the topic in an indirect way.

Illustration for Slightly Related
His speech was full of tangential stories that were only loosely connected to the main point.
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Avoid in Focus

'Tangential' should be avoided when a clear, direct point is required.

Illustration for Avoid in Focus
In debates, tangential remarks can weaken your position by diverting attention.
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Conversation Steer

'Tangential' can indicate someone is steering a conversation away from the main topic.

Illustration for Conversation Steer
I noticed her tangential comments were a tactic to avoid discussing the issue at hand.
Word comparison image

Compare with

DigressExtraneousIncidentalInconsequentialPeripheralSecondarySuperficial
Visual representation of the word "Tangential"

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