Definition of incongruitynext
as in paradox
someone or something with qualities or features that seem to conflict with one another she's an incongruity: an impeccably groomed woman who keeps a messy house

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of incongruity This shows early cognitive engagement with incongruity, which is a fundamental element of humor. Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 9 Mar. 2026 During the talk, Brooks joked about the seeming incongruity of teaching courses in emotional realism under the shingle of a public policy school. Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 21 Apr. 2026 Irony involves incongruity, while tragicomedy is about possible congruity—not mutual erasure but the capacity for the tragic and comic to coexist. Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 14 June 2026 The incongruity between the grim dystopia that Coetzee conjured and the booming post-apartheid reality of Cape Town is terribly relevant to the way he is perceived, and puzzled over, by South Africans today. Gary Shteyngart, The Atlantic, 17 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for incongruity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incongruity
paradox
Noun
  • The tokenized real-world assets market, valued at $60 billion across 7,000 products, faces a significant activity paradox.
    Aaron Stanley, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • The spindle’s life, after all, is a bit of a paradox, Dumont said.
    Jake Buehler, Quanta Magazine, 29 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Incongruity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incongruity. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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