incongruous

adjective

in·​con·​gru·​ous (ˌ)in-ˈkäŋ-grə-wəs How to pronounce incongruous (audio)
: lacking congruity: such as
a
: not harmonious : incompatible
incongruous colors
b
: not conforming : disagreeing
conduct incongruous with principle
c
: inconsistent within itself
an incongruous story
d
: lacking propriety : unsuitable
incongruous manners
incongruously adverb
incongruousness noun

Did you know?

Incongruous is a spin-off of its antonym, congruous, which means "in agreement, harmony, or correspondence." Etymologists are in agreement about the origin of both words: they trace to the Latin congruus, from the verb congruere, which means "to come together" or "to agree." The dates of these words' first uses in English match up pretty well, too. Both words are first known to have appeared in English in the early 1580s.

Examples of incongruous in a Sentence

There is something incongruous about Oslo. Hugh C. McDonald, The Hour of the Blue Fox, 1975
… it would be as incongruous to meet her at the end of a chapter as it would be to see the dawn break in the west … Herman Wouk, Aurora Dawn, 1947
He ate enormously, with a zest which seemed incongruous with his spare frame. Willa Cather, The Song of the Lark, 1915
His outburst seemed incongruous to those who know him well. there's an incongruous modernism to the actor's performance in this period piece
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.
Rooms and Suites The low-slung rectangular silhouette of Capella Bangkok may appear incongruous with the rest of the soaring cylindrical skyline of Bangkok, but there is purpose embedded in that design: every room in Capella Bangkok has a river view. Lauren Mowery, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025 Gigi is the proprietor of the family shop, stocked with expensive bags and dresses she’s procured through international business connections, its walls adorned with incongruous revolutionary iconography. Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2024 Chris tells Carroll’s reflective, incongruous story – which contains some darker interludes – with humour, empathy, a light touch and great skill. The Athletic Uk Staff, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024 The notoriously elusive artist has re-entered the public fore with an incongruous collaboration: a music video with comedian Ben Stiller. Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 21 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for incongruous 

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin incongruus, from Latin in- + congruus congruous

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of incongruous was in 1582

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Dictionary Entries Near incongruous

Cite this Entry

“Incongruous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incongruous. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

incongruous

adjective
in·​con·​gru·​ous (ˈ)in-ˈkäŋ-grə-wəs How to pronounce incongruous (audio)
: not harmonious, suitable, or proper
incongruous colors
incongruity
ˌin-kən-ˈgrü-ət-ē
-ˌkän-
noun
incongruously
(ˈ)in-ˈkaŋ-grə-wəs-lē
adverb
incongruousness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on incongruous

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