12 Alternative Ways to Say “Doesn’t Make Sense”

When something doesn’t add up, like a confusing explanation or odd statement, using different ways to show your confusion can be helpful. 

Instead of saying, “Doesn’t make sense,” using varied phrases can improve clarity and politeness.

In this guide, I’ll show you 12 alternative ways to express the same idea in both casual and formal settings.

Synonyms for “Doesn’t Make Sense”

• Doesn’t Add Up
• Seems Confusing
• Makes No Sense
• Hard to Follow
• Doesn’t Quite Connect
• Lacks Clarity
• Doesn’t Hold Up
• Seems Off
• Doesn’t Seem Logical
• Makes Little Sense
• Hard to Grasp
• Doesn’t Fit

1. Doesn’t Add Up

Examples:

• I tried to follow the instructions, but the numbers just don’t add up.
• Her explanation was confusing because it doesn’t add up.

2. Seems Confusing

Examples:

• The new policy seems confusing to everyone on the team.
• His reasoning seems confusing and hard to understand.

3. Makes No Sense

Examples:

• The conclusion he reached makes no sense based on the data.
• That comment she made makes no sense in this context.

4. Hard to Follow

Examples:

• The way he explained the process was hard to follow.
• Her story was interesting but hard to follow at times.

5. Doesn’t Quite Connect

Examples:

• The argument doesn’t quite connect with the evidence provided.
• Their response doesn’t quite connect with the original question.

6. Lacks Clarity

Examples:

• The proposal lacks clarity and needs more detail.
• The email was poorly written and lacked clarity.

7. Doesn’t Hold Up

Examples:

• The theory he proposed doesn’t hold up under scrutiny.
• Her argument doesn’t hold up when you look at the facts.

8. Seems Off

Examples:

• The way he described the event seems off from what I remember.
• The statistics seem off and need to be checked again.

9. Doesn’t Seem Logical

Examples:

• The plan doesn’t seem logical given the current situation.
• His response doesn’t seem logical considering the evidence.

10. Makes Little Sense

Examples:

• The new rule makes little sense to those who have to follow it.
• Her reasoning makes little sense and needs to be re-evaluated.

11. Hard to Grasp

Examples:

• The concept was hard to grasp at first but became clearer later.
• The instructions were hard to grasp and needed further explanation.

12. Doesn’t Fit

Examples:

• The data provided doesn’t fit with the research findings.
• His explanation doesn’t fit with the facts we have.