tangential

Definitions

Relating to or along a tangent.

Diverging from a previous course or line; erratic.

Hardly touching a matter; peripheral or digressive.

Examples

The professor's lecture took a tangential turn when he started discussing his childhood hobbies.

Her comments were interesting but ultimately tangential to the main topic of the meeting.

Synonyms

peripheral digressive irrelevant extraneous incidental divergent secondary

Antonyms

central relevant essential pertinent germane crucial focused