incongruity

noun

in·​con·​gru·​i·​ty ˌin-kən-ˈgrü-ə-tē How to pronounce incongruity (audio)
-ˌkän-
plural incongruities
Synonyms of incongruity
1
: the quality or state of being incongruous
2
: something that is incongruous

Synonyms of incongruity

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Examples of incongruity in a Sentence

she's an incongruity: an impeccably groomed woman who keeps a messy house
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.
There is an incongruity that may be best understood as an irony. — Aaron Matz, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026 Nobody is more alive to the comic incongruity than the man himself. — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 May 2026 Not a single critic of the book was struck by the incongruity of this failure in basic thriller plotting. — Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026 Ridge’s equal deftness at the high end and the low is one of many apparent incongruities that the winery has managed to balance comfortably. — Senior Wine Critic, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for incongruity

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1532, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of incongruity was circa 1532

Rhymes for incongruity

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Browse Nearby Words

incongruently
incongruity
incongruous
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Cite this Entry

“Incongruity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incongruity. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on incongruity

Nglish: Translation of incongruity for Spanish Speakers

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