incongruous

USAGE SUMMARY

"incongruous" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is an adjective which means "not in agreement or harmony; incompatible; inconsistent". Example sentence: "The incongruous patterns of the fabric made it difficult to match the curtains with the rest of the room."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Which is encouraging, but perhaps a little incongruous given that, as Skrillex, Moore has become dubstep's most hated producer in certain quarters of the internet.

The Guardian - Music

We stroll around with our cameras and notebooks, spotting usable buildings and interesting shots, painfully aware of being completely out of place, every bit as incongruous as the intruding Londoners in our story.

The Guardian - Film

English country pursuits may seem a little incongruous in a West Indian setting.

The Guardian - Travel

As Marrero said: "There is something counterintuitive and incongruous in a party agreeing to settle a case for $600m if it truly did nothing wrong".

The Guardian - Opinion

More importantly, the film successfully mixes two elements, which at first might seem incongruous: gritty realism with joyous escapism.

The Guardian - Film

It would certainly be an incongruous scene for an energy boom, in the lightly wooded commuter belt countryside a few miles from Gatwick's perimeter, but with the flight paths pointing elsewhere, leaving the local horses and goats, even a field of llamas, to graze in peace.

The Guardian - Business

A clue to his former life lies in an incongruous walkie-talkie among the smartphones on his desk.

The Guardian

The next two goals felt incongruous to the real story of the game but Madrid, ultimately, deserved to get hold of the trophy they cherish above everything else.

The Guardian - Sport

Only a few years ago the first part of that conversation might have seemed entirely incongruous but this tiny desert peninsula is now home to a modern, wealthy, efficient and, above all, geopolitically ambitious nation.

The Guardian - Sport

As I exit the airport at Imphal, the capital, after my permit has been stared at, prodded and copied by many surprised-looking officials, I reflect that almost anything I write from here will be a scoop.It is a peculiar place, as incongruous to mainstream India as the fringes of cobbled-together countries always are.

The Economist

The company, he said, "cannot afford to operate in Italy in an environment of uncertainty that is so incongruous with the conditions that exist elsewhere".

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "incongruous" when you want to highlight a surprising or unexpected lack of harmony between elements. It's effective for emphasizing a contrast that seems illogical or out of place.

Common error

Avoid using "incongruous" to describe simple disagreements. It's better suited for situations where the lack of harmony is striking and unexpected, not just a matter of differing opinions.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "incongruous" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe something as out of place, not fitting, or lacking harmony. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes a state of disharmony.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Formal & Business

22%

Science

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "incongruous" is a versatile adjective used to describe a lack of harmony or fitness between elements. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English. It's frequently found in news articles, formal documents, and scientific writing, indicating a tendency towards neutral or formal contexts. When using "incongruous", ensure you're highlighting a surprising or unexpected lack of harmony, not just a simple disagreement. Alternatives include "out of place", "inconsistent", and "incompatible", each providing slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mismatched

Directly indicates a failure to correspond or harmonize, often in a visual or aesthetic sense.

out of place

Focuses on the feeling of not belonging or fitting in a particular environment or situation.

incompatible

Highlights the impossibility of two or more things existing or working together harmoniously.

inconsistent

Emphasizes a lack of logical or expected compatibility between different elements or statements.

anomalous

Implies a deviation from the norm or what is expected, suggesting something is unusual or irregular.

unsuitable

Highlights the inappropriateness of something for a specific purpose or context.

ill-suited

Implies not appropriate or suitable for the occasion or purpose

discordant

Stresses a lack of agreement or harmony, often used in contexts involving sound or visual elements.

jarring

Indicates a sharp, unpleasant contrast or conflict that causes a feeling of unease.

clashing

Suggests a strong, often visual, conflict between different elements that are not aesthetically pleasing together.

FAQs

How can I use "incongruous" in a sentence?

Use "incongruous" to describe something that seems out of place or doesn't fit well with its surroundings or context. For example, "The modern building looked "out of place" among the historic architecture."

What's a simpler word for "incongruous"?

Depending on the context, you can use words like "unsuitable", "incompatible", or "mismatched" as alternatives to "incongruous".

What is the difference between "incongruous" and "inconsistent"?

"Incongruous" suggests a lack of harmony or appropriateness, while "inconsistent" implies a contradiction or lack of logical coherence. Something can be "inconsistent" without being noticeably out of place, and vice versa.

When is it appropriate to use the word "incongruous"?

Use "incongruous" when you want to emphasize a striking or unexpected lack of harmony between elements. It's most effective when the contrast is illogical or surprising, rather than simply a matter of difference.