coherent
adjective
co·her·ent
kō-ˈhir-ənt 
-ˈher-
1
a
: logically or aesthetically ordered or integrated : consistent
coherent style
a coherent argument
b
: having clarity or intelligibility : understandable
a coherent person
a coherent passage
2
: having the quality of holding together or cohering
3
a
: relating to or composed of waves having a constant difference in phase
coherent light
b
: producing coherent light
a coherent source
coherently
adverb
Synonyms
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.
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 on the Web
Whatever the reason, the fact is that at speed, the Folgore never feels as coherent as the Trofeo.
—Angus MacKenzie, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2024
These works redefined my notion of what music could be, and Nevermind is the proof that it can all be summed up into a simple, powerful, coherent whole.
—Daniel Kohn, SPIN, 5 Apr. 2024
Otherwise, your brand won’t be coherent and unique.
—Magen Baker, Rolling Stone, 5 Mar. 2024
David Lynch made one in the ’80s that’s a camp classic but struggles to stay coherent.
—Angela Watercutter, WIRED, 1 Mar. 2024
Maybe not, and maybe no one cares if this jumble of amusing parts makes a coherent whole.
—Katie Walsh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2024
After correctly concluding that Putin did not present a coherent case for invading Ukraine, Carlson comes to Putin’s defense by implicitly condemning the West for rejecting Russia’s invitation into Europe without any analysis of why that may have been the case.
—John Hewko, The Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2024
There is one way to restore security, reduce tensions, and promote regional integration: Allow Israel to prove its strength by ending Hamas as a coherent military force.
—Matthew Continetti, National Review, 30 Mar. 2024
But in private some were scathing about the lack of a coherent strategy on Iran.
—Anshel Pfeffer, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2024
Angus MacKenzie, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2024
These works redefined my notion of what music could be, and Nevermind is the proof that it can all be summed up into a simple, powerful, coherent whole.
—Daniel Kohn, SPIN, 5 Apr. 2024
Otherwise, your brand won’t be coherent and unique.
—Magen Baker, Rolling Stone, 5 Mar. 2024
David Lynch made one in the ’80s that’s a camp classic but struggles to stay coherent.
—Angela Watercutter, WIRED, 1 Mar. 2024
Maybe not, and maybe no one cares if this jumble of amusing parts makes a coherent whole.
—Katie Walsh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2024
After correctly concluding that Putin did not present a coherent case for invading Ukraine, Carlson comes to Putin’s defense by implicitly condemning the West for rejecting Russia’s invitation into Europe without any analysis of why that may have been the case.
—John Hewko, The Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2024
There is one way to restore security, reduce tensions, and promote regional integration: Allow Israel to prove its strength by ending Hamas as a coherent military force.
—Matthew Continetti, National Review, 30 Mar. 2024
But in private some were scathing about the lack of a coherent strategy on Iran.
—Anshel Pfeffer, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'coherent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near coherent
Cite this Entry
“Coherent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coherent. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
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