incongruous

in·con·gru·ous

adjective \(ˌ)in-ˈkäŋ-grə-wəs\

Definition of INCONGRUOUS

: lacking congruity: as

a : not harmonious : incompatible <incongruous colors>

b : not conforming : disagreeing <conduct incongruous with principle>

c : inconsistent within itself <an incongruous story>

d : lacking propriety : unsuitable <incongruous manners>

— in·con·gru·ous·ly adverb

— in·con·gru·ous·ness noun

Examples of INCONGRUOUS

1. His outburst seemed incongruous to those who know him well.
2. <there's an incongruous modernism to the actor's performance in this period piece>
3. There is something incongruous about Oslo. —Hugh C. McDonald, The Hour of the Blue Fox, 1975
4. … it would be as incongruous to meet her at the end of a chapter as it would be to see the dawn break in the west … —Herman Wouk, Aurora Dawn, 1947
5. He ate enormously, with a zest which seemed incongruous with his spare frame. —Willa Cather, The Song of the Lark, 1915

Origin of INCONGRUOUS

Late Latin incongruus, from Latin in- + congruus congruous

First Known Use: 1611

Related to INCONGRUOUS

Synonyms

amiss, graceless, improper, inapposite, inapt, inappropriate, incorrect, indecorous, inept, infelicitous, malapropos, perverse, unapt, unbecoming, unfit, unhappy, unseemly, unsuitable, untoward, wrong

Antonyms

appropriate, becoming, befitting, correct, decorous, felicitous, fit, fitting, genteel, happy, meet, proper, right, seemly, suitable

Related Words

inopportune, unfortunate, unseasonable, untimely; extraneous, immaterial, inapplicable, irrelative, irrelevant; misbecoming, mismatched; incompatible, inconsistent, uncongenial; bad, naughty, sinful; blamable, blameworthy, censurable; banned, barred, disallowed; forbidden, interdicted, outlawed, prohibited, proscribed; awkward, gauche, ungraceful; unacceptable, unsatisfactory

Near Antonyms

fortunate, opportune, seasonable, timely; applicable, apposite, apropos, apt, germane, material, pat, pointed, relative, relevant; compatible, congenial, harmonious; allowed, authorized, permitted; approved, endorsed (also indorsed), kosher, licensed, sanctioned; abetted, encouraged, promoted, supported; acceptable, adequate, all right, decent, fine, OK (or okay), passable, respectable, satisfactory, tolerable; commendable, creditable, exemplary; blameless, irreproachable; balanced, companionate, congruous, consonant, harmonious