mismatched

USAGE SUMMARY

"mismatched" is a perfectly correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to describe two objects of different sizes, shapes, or colors. For example, "The mismatched chairs at the cafe looked like they had been collected from different shops over the years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Its cash generation and debts are mismatched among its subsidiaries.

The Economist

It may be worried that bank balance-sheets are mismatched as well as oversized.

The Economist

These men wear mismatched camouflage, and carry mixed weaponry.

The Economist

Time out of work can mean skills dwindle or become mismatched to the needs of the market; the skills needed by industries that flourish in the recovery may differ from those central to the industries which laid people off in the slump.

The Economist

TWO more mismatched housemates than Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin would be hard to find.

The Economist

Truffaut's similarly mismatched friends succumbed to a female whirlwind played by Jeanne Moreau; Vicky and Cristina, on holiday in Barcelona, meet Juan Antonio, a sexy painter played by the very male Javier Bardem, who is attracted to both of them.At this point something curious happens.

The Economist

Its four provinces are also mismatched.

The Economist

I Take This Woman (1940) featured mismatched Tracy and Hedy Lamarr in a cloying story of unappreciated sacrifice; directors Frank Borzage and Josef von Sternberg also had worked on the production but left the project and were not credited.

Encyclopedia Britannica

However, working with a script by Hecht and Charles MacArthur, he crafted Twentieth Century (1934) into an enduring screwball comedy, establishing (along with Frank Capra's It Happened One Night [1934]) the genre's conventions: seemingly mismatched lovers at the centre of unlikely romances, off-the-wall characters and behaviour, and zany situations.

Encyclopedia Britannica

At the start of the war, the two sides seemed grossly mismatched.

Encyclopedia Britannica

However, even when a donor antigen match is identical, roughly 40 percent of recipients still develop GVHD; this figure increases to between 60 and 80 percent when only a single antigen is mismatched.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing items that are intentionally "mismatched" for aesthetic effect, consider using qualifiers like "artfully" or "deliberately" to convey the intentionality of the design choice.

Common error

Avoid using "unmatched" when you mean "mismatched". "Unmatched" means having no equal or superior, while "mismatched" means poorly paired or unsuited to each other.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "mismatched" primarily functions to describe a state of incongruity or incompatibility between two or more items. Ludwig's examples show its use in diverse contexts, from describing relationships to physical objects.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Encyclopedias

21%

Science

11%

Less common in

The Guardian - Travel

2%

The Guardian - Film

2%

The Guardian

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "mismatched" is a versatile adjective used to describe items or concepts that lack harmony or suitability. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability. It appears most frequently in News & Media and Encyclopedias, indicating its relevance across various domains. While alternatives like "unmatched" and "incompatible" exist, "mismatched" offers a specific nuance that emphasizes the lack of proper pairing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unmatched

Direct synonym implying a lack of pairing or correspondence.

ill-matched

Similar to "mismatched", emphasizing the negative aspect of the combination.

incompatible

Highlights the inability to coexist or function harmoniously.

discordant

Focuses on the lack of agreement or harmony, often in a figurative sense.

unsuited

Indicates a lack of fitness or appropriateness for a particular purpose or situation.

incongruous

Emphasizes the lack of consistency or harmony, often in a surprising or jarring way.

disparate

Highlights a fundamental difference or inequality, leading to a mismatch.

uncoordinated

Implies a lack of organization or harmonious arrangement.

clashing

Suggests a strong disagreement or incompatibility, often visually or stylistically.

at odds

Indicates disagreement or conflict, leading to a state of being mismatched.

FAQs

How can I use "mismatched" in a sentence?

"Mismatched" is used to describe items that do not go well together or are unsuited to each other. For example, "The couple seemed like a "mismatched" pair" or "The furniture was a collection of "mismatched" styles."

What's the difference between "mismatched" and "unmatched"?

"Mismatched" implies a lack of coordination or suitability, while "unmatched" means unparalleled or without equal. They are not interchangeable.

What are some synonyms for "mismatched"?

Alternatives to "mismatched" include "incompatible", "discordant", or "unsuited", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say something is "deliberately mismatched"?

Yes, "deliberately mismatched" is a valid and sometimes stylish way to describe items that are intentionally paired in a way that appears unconventional or unplanned.