incongruous

adjective

(ˌ)in-ˈkäŋ-grə-wəs How to pronounce incongruous (audio)
Definition of incongruousnext
1
as in inappropriate
not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation there's an incongruous modernism to the actor's performance in this period piece

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inconsistent
not being in agreement or harmony incongruous theories about the origins of matter

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 incongruous There’s something delightfully incongruous about arriving at Rockaway Beach. — Zoey Goto, Travel + Leisure, 2 June 2026 During the interview, Villa is wearing a ring from her Close Encounters collection, which showcases incongruous animals and plants living side-by-side. — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 27 May 2026 Especially the guy who bangs a wrecking ball against the historic East Wing to make room for an incongruous ballroom monstrosity, who mars the sacred Oval Office with gold glitter and paves over the lovely Rose Garden. — Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026 Many objected to the movie’s inconsistent mythology, weak character development, fundamental changes to the persona of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), and an overall lack of coherent world-building across Abrams and Johnson’s two incongruous installments. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 23 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for incongruous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incongruous
  1. inappropriate
  2. inconsistent
  3. unsuitable
  4. conflicting
  5. improper
  6. incorrect
  7. wrong
  8. unhappy
Adjective
  • In some countries, such as Japan, tipping can even be viewed as awkward, inappropriate, and unnecessary as patrons eat, pay the bill, and simply leave.
    — Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
  • Some commenters felt the post was cringeworthy and inappropriate.
    — Richard Johnson, New York Daily News, 5 July 2026
Definition of inappropriate
Adjective
  • Avoid abrupt temperature changes, frequent relocation, and inconsistent watering.
    — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 July 2026
  • Broadcasters and platforms needed reliable ways to deliver streams to millions of viewers across inconsistent internet connections.
    — Chris Allen, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of inconsistent
Adjective
  • Drivers should avoid off-road detours or unpaved shortcuts suggested by map apps, as those routes can be dangerous and unsuitable for passenger and commercial vehicles, state officials said.
    — Katie Langford, Denver Post, 4 July 2026
  • The dogs were found to be living in unsuitable conditions, while the puppies were suffering from malnutrition, and a number of the dogs had additional medical conditions as well.
    — Adam England, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026
Definition of unsuitable
Adjective
  • Pulling off all the ambiguity and conflicting emotions can’t have been easy.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 2 July 2026
  • Trump also frequently offered conflicting statements about the war itself.
    — Will Weissert, Fortune, 2 July 2026
Definition of conflicting
Adjective
  • Also requested were documents related to a lawsuit, recently settled for $135,000, claiming Kramer had given an improper assessment of a property and retaliated against an employee who complained.
    — Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 7 July 2026
  • Thus, the LLCs asserting objections to the alter ego findings as to the trusts were improper.
    — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of improper
Adjective
  • In 2024, Air Canada's AI agent gave a passenger incorrect information about bereavement fares.
    — Stu Sjouwerman, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
  • Even though talks with the Boston Red Sox at last year’s deadline never got close, the confusion provided by an incorrect tweet announcing Ryan’s trade to New England put the pitcher at the top of every trade list before the season even began.
    — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 6 July 2026
Definition of incorrect
Adjective
  • Critics, and even some supporters, said Soto-Martínez was making his move at the wrong time.
    — Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
  • That could always be wrong, of course, but at least that’s the garage talk heading into the weekend.
    — Jess Bryant, New York Times, 4 July 2026
Definition of wrong
Adjective
  • The decade was an unhappy panorama of inflation, gas shortages, military humiliation, and revelations of political corruption.
    — Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
  • On Tuesday, Paul urged Americans who are unhappy with the justices’ ruling to support his proposal.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 30 June 2026
Definition of unhappy

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incongruous
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Cite this Entry

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

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More from Merriam-Webster on incongruous

Nglish: Translation of incongruous for Spanish Speakers

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