Definition of coherent
1a : logically or aesthetically ordered or integrated : consistent coherent style a coherent argumentb : having clarity or intelligibility : understandable a coherent person a coherent passage
2 : having the quality of holding together or cohering; especially : cohesive, coordinated a coherent plan for action
3a : relating to or composed of waves having a constant difference in phase coherent lightb : producing coherent light a coherent source
coherently
adverbFrom the M-W Editors
Examples of coherent in a Sentence
… the diaries and the novels demonstrate how a novelist tweaks and grooms reality into something more structured and coherent than life as it is lived. —Penelope Lively, Atlantic, February 2001
He is without a political agenda as he is without a coherent moral sensibility. —Joyce Carol Oates, Entertainment Weekly, 27 July 1990
At times, without my insisting on it, my writings become coherent; the successive elements that occur to me are clearly related. —William Stafford, Writing the Australian Crawl, 1978
This time the song was old, a pattern of rhythmic monosyllables which had lost coherent meaning somewhere in time. —Tony Hillerman, The Blessing Way, 1970
He proposed the most coherent plan to improve the schools.
They are able to function as a coherent group.
Recent Examples of coherent from the Web
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Other political veterans, however, say the key hurdle in getting out a coherent and effective message is not the staff, but the president himself.
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Fidel Castro slowly faded from view, becoming even less coherent, before dying at home in November, as his brother slowly rolled back their revolution.
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Enacting major legislation requires a White House that is focused, confident and coherent.
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Looked at, whole and complete, the entire operation now looks like a coherent and lawless enterprise.
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But after a legacy of failure, an explanation of why economies expand and a set of coherent policies to promote growth may be at hand.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'coherent'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of coherent
borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French coherent, borrowed from Latin cohaerent-, cohaerens “touching, adjacent, cohering,” from present participle of cohaerēre “to cohere”
COHERENT Defined for English Language Learners
coherent
playDefinition of coherent for English Language Learners
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: logical and well-organized : easy to understand
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: able to talk or express yourself in a clear way that can be easily understood
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: working closely and well together
COHERENT Defined for Kids
coherent
playDefinition of coherent for Students
1 : logical and well-organized a coherent speech
2 : to be able to speak well The accident left her shaken but coherent.
Learn More about coherent
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See words that rhyme with coherent Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for coherent Spanish Central: Translation of coherent Nglish: Translation of coherent for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of coherent for Arabic speakers
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