so what

phrase

—used to say that something should not be considered objectionable
She has a glass of wine now and then—so what?
So what if he wears a necktie with a plaid shirt?

Examples of so what in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Arsenal are at the forefront of the trend, so what makes the league champions’ free kicks and corners so difficult to defend? — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026 After all, the technology offers mind-boggling capabilities and the tools are readily available, so what prevents organizations from generating benefits whose value far exceeds productivity boosts—and far exceeds the costs of implementing AI? — Jim Deloach, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026 Realtors have a financial interest in boosting supply, but so what? — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026 Peak season shifts by region, so what is ripe in Georgia in June may not hit stands in Michigan until August. — Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for so what

Rhymes for so what

See All Rhymes for so what

Browse Nearby Words

sow-gelder
so what
sowl
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“So what.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/so%20what. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of prowess

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All