Definitions
- Describing a speech or writing that wanders off-topic or lacks focus. - Referring to a person who tends to digress or stray from the main point of a conversation. - Talking about a discussion or argument that goes off on tangents and loses its coherence.
- Describing a speech or writing that deviates from the main topic but still maintains some relevance. - Referring to a person who tends to go off-topic but eventually returns to the main point. - Talking about a discussion or argument that includes some tangents but still maintains its coherence.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe a tendency to go off-topic or deviate from the main point.
- 2Both words can be used to describe speech, writing, or conversation.
- 3Both words suggest a lack of focus or coherence.
- 4Both words can be used to describe a person's communication style.
What is the difference?
- 1Degree of deviation: Divagatory suggests a more significant departure from the main topic than digressive.
- 2Relevance: Digressive implies that the deviation is still somewhat relevant to the main topic, while divagatory suggests a complete lack of relevance.
- 3Connotation: Divagatory has a more negative connotation than digressive, which can have a neutral or even positive connotation.
- 4Usage: Divagatory is less common than digressive and may be considered more formal or literary.
- 5Intensity: Divagatory is a stronger word than digressive and implies a more severe lack of focus.
Remember this!
Divagatory and digressive are synonyms that describe a tendency to go off-topic or deviate from the main point. However, divagatory suggests a more significant departure from the main topic and a complete lack of relevance, while digressive implies that the deviation is still somewhat related to the main topic. Additionally, divagatory has a more negative connotation and is less common than digressive.
