Incongruous
Sneakers at a black-tie event, laughter at a funeral, and data that refuses the story are all examples of things that do not sit right in the frame.
Learn This WordMeaning
Not in harmony or keeping with the surroundings; out of place; incompatible.
Memory trick
IN + congruous: not congruent, not matching. Incongruous = doesn’t fit.
Examples
His joke felt incongruous during such a serious meeting.
The modern sofa looked incongruous in the historic cottage.
The optimistic forecast was incongruous with the data.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From Latin incongruus "not suitable," from in- "not" + congruus "agreeing, suitable."
Usage Notes
Great when you want to say “this doesn’t match” with a precise, slightly formal tone.
Real-life contexts
Use in critique: "That claim feels incongruous with the earlier section."
Use for tone: "The cheerful copy is incongruous with the error state."
Use for analysis: "These numbers are incongruous, let’s reconcile sources."
Common Mistakes
Incongruous is about mismatch, not ambiguity. Something can be clear but incongruous.
Master This Word
Add "incongruous" to your vocabulary and practice with AI & smart flashcards!
Start LearningQuick Facts
Part of Speech
adjective
Difficulty
advancedMonthly Searches
~39,000