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
adverbPeople Are Reading
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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He was taken to a local hospital for treatment for dehydration but was not coherent enough to provide his name or other information at the time, police said.
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Finally, there’s the challenge of crafting a coherent trade policy.
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The president's strongest assets continue to be the healthy economy and a view among many Americans that the Democrats do not have a coherent message or program in opposition, other than opposition to the president.
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The special effects in the movie are used to create convincing ape-like characters, and they in turn leverage a complex story that builds to a coherent conclusion, helped along by an unusually imaginative and effective score by Michael Giacchino.
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Even shortlisted women with impressive CVs may still be assumed to be less competent, are challenged, sometimes excessively, and therefore have less time to present a coherent and compelling talk.
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But the problem is there’s no coherent approach how to leverage those assets and get the yield from them for the public good.
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Pelosi has no ability to project a coherent message; Schumer seems entirely reactive; and the base has fixed its sights on a Russian-collusion fantasy that may eventually be revealed as a vegan nothing-burger.
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He and some colleagues worked to develop a coherent philosophy underpinning the rules, while refining the rules themselves.
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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