incoherent

adjective

Save Word

in·co·her·ent | \ ˌin-kō-ˈhir-ənt

, -ˈher- \

Definition of incoherent

: lacking coherence: such as

a : lacking normal clarity or intelligibility in speech or thought incoherent with grief

b : lacking orderly continuity, arrangement, or relevance : inconsistent an incoherent essay

c : lacking cohesion : loose

Other Words from incoherent Synonyms & Antonyms Did you know? Example Sentences Learn More About incoherent

Keep scrolling for more

Synonyms & Antonyms for incoherent

Synonyms

Antonyms

coherent,
connected

Did you know?

Something that is coherent holds or sticks together firmly, with resistance to separation (that is, it coheres). Coherent, ultimately from the Latin co- ("together") and haerēre ("to stick or cling"), entered English in the 16th century and almost from the beginning was used both of physical things ("coherent stone") and of things which hold together in a much less palpable way ("coherent thoughts"). Its antonym, incoherent, entered the language about three-quarters of a century later. Like coherent, incoherent can be applied to both the tangible and the intangible. But, whether we are speaking of sand or logic, all things incoherent have one thing in common: they do not hold together, literally or figuratively, in a unified or intelligible whole.

Examples of incoherent in a Sentence

The fever made her incoherent. He was very upset and practically incoherent after the accident. The memo is completely incoherent.

Recent Examples on the Web The character that Cage portrays is incoherent, illustrative, and ludicrous, and yet his portrayal makes the movie. — Richard Brod, The New Yorker, 17 July 2021 Stepien, Miller and Meadows thought his argument was both incoherent and irresponsible. — Carol D. Leonnig And Philip Rucker Washington Post, Star Tribune, 13 July 2021 This outcry is the loudest, and the most incoherent, at what is normally the most sober of financial media outlets. — George Calhoun, Forbes, 21 June 2021 The day before the opening, Bacon came back from a lunch and found George, who had accompanied him to Paris, drunk and incoherent, in bed with a rent boy. — Joan Acocella, The New Yorker, 17 May 2021 But Packer also describes the incoherent response to the pandemic across the political class. — George Packer, New York Times, 14 June 2021 Some cyberpolicy critics see Biden's sanctions for SolarWinds spying in more cynical terms: an incoherent, knee-jerk response designed to satisfy anyone who'd accuse the administration of being soft on Russia. — Andy Greenberg, Wired, 15 Apr. 2021 Trump’s early denial of the pandemic, active propagation of misinformation about mask-wearing and treatments and incoherent leadership harmed the country as a whole—but the outcome was much worse for some groups than others. — Sumit Ganguly, Quartz, 20 May 2021 Trump’s early denial of the pandemic, active propagation of misinformation about mask-wearing and treatments and incoherent leadership harmed the country as a whole – but the outcome was much worse for some groups than others. — Dorothy Chin, The Conversation, 18 May 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'incoherent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more