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incongruous

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in·con·gru·ous

   [in-kong-groo-uhs]
–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.
3.
inconsistent: actions that were incongruous with their professed principles.
Use incongruous in a Sentence
Origin:
1605–15; < L incongruus inconsistent. See in-3, congruous

—Related forms
in·con·gru·ous·ly, adverb
in·con·gru·ous·ness, noun

—Can be confused: congruous, congruent, incongruous, incongruent.

—Synonyms
1. discrepant, unsuitable, ridiculous, ludicrous, absurd. 2. inharmonious, discordant. 3. contrary, contradictory. See inconsistent.

—Antonyms
1. becoming, appropriate. 2. consonant. 3. consistent.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
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Word Origin & History

incongruous
1611, from L. incongruus, from in- "not" + congruus (see congruent).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Main Entry:  incongruous1
Part of Speech:  adj
Definition:  not congruous; disagreeing and inharmonious in character
Etymology:  Latin in- + congruere 'to come together'
Main Entry:  incongruous2
Part of Speech:  adj
Definition:  disagreeing with circumstances; unsuitable, inappropriate
Etymology:  Latin in- + congruere 'to come together'
Main Entry:  incongruous3
Part of Speech:  adj
Definition:  characterized by inconsistency
Etymology:  Latin in- + congruere 'to come together'
Dictionary.com's 21st Century Lexicon
Copyright © 2003-2010 Dictionary.com, LLC
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in·con·gru·ous   (ĭn-kŏng'grōō-əs)   
adj.  

  1. Lacking in harmony; incompatible: a joke that was incongruous with polite conversation.

  2. Not in agreement, as with principles; inconsistent: a plan incongruous with reason.

  3. Not in keeping with what is correct, proper, or logical; inappropriate: incongruous behavior.


[From Latin incongruus : in-, not; see in-1 + congruus, congruous; see congruous.]
in·con'gru·ous·ly adv., in·con'gru·ous·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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