inconsequential
/ɪnˌkɒnsɪˈkwenʃl/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪnˌkɑːnsɪˈkwenʃl/ (ame, ipa) · /(ˌ)in-ˌkän(t)-sə-ˈkwen(t)-shəl/ (ame, mw)
inconsequential — adjective
- inconsequentialpositive
- more inconsequentialcomparative
- most inconsequentialsuperlative
1. Something that is so minor, small, or trivial that it does not affect anything i
Something that is so minor, small, or trivial that it does not affect anything in a meaningful way and is not worth paying attention to.
Diego worried all week about one inconsequential typo, but nobody else even noticed it.
collocation: inconsequential [noun — small mistake]
The exact colour of the envelope is inconsequential — what matters is the letter inside.
Fumi realized that the disagreement over the meeting time was completely inconsequential.
To an experienced pilot, a delay of a few minutes is often inconsequential during bad weather.
- unimportant
The most direct synonym; less formal and more widely used.
- trivial
Suggests something is so small that it is almost ridiculous to focus on it.
- insignificant
Emphasises that something has no real value or meaning in a particular context.
- negligible
Common in technical or scientific contexts; means so small it can be ignored.
- important
The direct opposite in everyday language.
- significant
Suggests something has noticeable meaning or impact.
- consequential
The formal antonym; describes something that leads to important results.
用法筆記
Often used to describe details, differences, mistakes, or events that are so minor they do not affect the outcome. Common in both written and spoken English.
常見錯誤
2. Describing a conclusion, statement, or piece of reasoning that does not follow i
Describing a conclusion, statement, or piece of reasoning that does not follow in a logical way from the facts or arguments that came before it.
The student's conclusion was inconsequential — the data she presented did not support it.
pattern: [conclusion/claim] + was inconsequential
Chen found his opponent's reasoning hard to follow because one point seemed inconsequential to the next.
The judge ruled that the lawyer's argument was inconsequential and had no connection to the evidence.
Ana's speech sounded convincing at first, but her reasoning was inconsequential and left the audience puzzled.
- illogical
A stronger term; openly suggests the reasoning is wrong, not just disconnected.
- irrelevant
Focuses on the lack of connection to the topic at hand, rather than to the logical structure.
- unrelated
The simplest and most neutral term; does not carry a judgment of illogic.
- logical
Describes reasoning that follows a clear, sensible path.
- consequential
The formal antonym; refers to something that follows as a result.
- relevant
Describes something that is connected to the matter at hand.
用法筆記
Typically used in academic, analytical, or legal contexts. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 focuses on lack of logical connection, not lack of importance. Frequently followed by 'to' to indicate what the reasoning does not connect with.