Meaning & use
incongruent
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Not fitting well with something else, or not matching what you would expect.
Grammar: Often followed by with: incongruent with the rest.
Patterns
- incongruent with something
His cheerful tone was incongruent with the sad news.
The modern sign looked incongruent with the old building.
Her actions were incongruent with her stated values.
adjectivenot comparablemathematics
Not having exactly the same shape and size, so that one cannot be placed exactly over the other.
Grammar: Used about geometric figures: incongruent triangles.
Patterns
- incongruent triangles
The two triangles are incongruent because their sides differ.
Incongruent shapes cannot be matched by moving them.
Students found the incongruent pair.
Word forms
| comparative | more incongruent |
|---|---|
| superlative | most incongruent |
Common combinations
- incongruent with
- The evidence is incongruent with his story.
- seem incongruent
- The bright colors seem incongruent in a funeral hall.
- incongruent behavior
- Incongruent behavior can confuse others.
- incongruent shapes
- Incongruent shapes are not identical.
Synonyms and how they differ
- inconsistent
- Inconsistent is more common and means not matching or contradicting.
- incompatible
- Incompatible suggests two things cannot work or exist together.
- out of place
- Out of place is plainer and describes something that does not belong.
- discordant
- Discordant suggests a clash, like sounds or opinions.
Opposites
Word family
- incongruity noun
- the state of not fitting together
- incongruous adjective
- out of place or odd
- congruent adjective
- in agreement, or identical in shape
Commonly confused: incongruent or incongruous?
incongruent vs incongruous
Incongruous is the more common adjective for things that seem odd together; incongruent is more technical or formal.
Practice
The cheerful decorations seemed ____ with the serious mood of the ceremony.
Choose one answer.
Incongruent means not fitting with. Consistent is the opposite, while identical and parallel do not describe a mismatch of mood.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “incongruent”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.