incongruous

[ in-kong-groo-uhs ]
See synonyms for incongruous on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. out of keeping or place; inappropriate; unbecoming: an incongruous effect; incongruous behavior.

  2. not harmonious in character; inconsonant; lacking harmony of parts: an incongruous mixture of architectural styles.

  1. inconsistent: actions that were incongruous with their professed principles.

Origin of incongruous

1
First recorded in 1605–15, incongruous is from the Latin word incongruus “inconsistent.” See in-3, congruous

synonym study For incongruous

3. See inconsistent.

Other words for incongruous

Opposites for incongruous

Other words from incongruous

  • in·con·gru·ous·ly, adverb
  • in·con·gru·ous·ness, noun

Words that may be confused with incongruous

Words Nearby incongruous

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use incongruous in a sentence

  • When he returned to the hotel he kissed his incongruous room-mate with the gentleness of a woman.

  • The little name sounded so incongruous; it did not suit the big gaunt woman who had almost a touch of the monstrous in her.

    The Wave | Algernon Blackwood
  • In the whole city there was not such another incongruous gathering of activities.

    The Woman Gives | Owen Johnson
  • She made him a stately courtesy for the benefit of the three faces glued against the panes, but her words were incongruous.

  • "I guess I'm not a very—good business manager," faltered the red-lipped voice with incongruous pathos.

    Molly Make-Believe | Eleanor Hallowell Abbott

British Dictionary definitions for incongruous

incongruous

incongruent

/ (ɪnˈkɒŋɡrʊəs) /


adjective
  1. (when postpositive, foll by with or to) incompatible with (what is suitable); inappropriate

  2. containing disparate or discordant elements or parts

Derived forms of incongruous

  • incongruously or incongruently, adverb
  • incongruousness or incongruence, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012