Definition of incompatible
1 : incapable of being held by one person at one time —used of offices that make conflicting demands on the holder
2 : not compatible: such asa : incapable of association or harmonious coexistence incompatible colorsb : unsuitable for use together because of undesirable chemical or physiological effects incompatible drugsc : not both true incompatible propositionsd : incapable of blending into a stable homogeneous mixture
incompatible
nounExplore Merriam-Webster
Examples of incompatible in a Sentence
This printer is incompatible with some PCs.
the committee's incompatible goals—develop new projects and cut costs—meant that they got very little accomplished
Recent Examples of incompatible from the Web
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The financial crisis is hardly the only issue for which conservative principles turn out to be incompatible with the practical demands of governance.
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That proximity sparked an interest in the famed poet’s work, a curiosity quickly extinguished by the incompatible combination of its complexity and my obtuseness.
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None of them were publicized before now, but even his statements from this week alone are incompatible with that belief.
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The former sorts of idealism and nationalism are plainly preferable, and compatible with one another; the latter are inferior and incompatible — and unfortunately, lately we’ve been getting too much of them.
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Durable, easy-to-clean paints, antimicrobial stain-resistant rugs and more mean that a beautiful home and a furry pet are no longer incompatible.
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Linda Sarsour, a leader of the women’s rights movement, has lambasted Zionism as incompatible with feminism and advocates for the exclusion of pro-Israel Jews from activist groups.
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Anne Berner, Finnish minister of Transport and Communications, also discourages the notion that public transport and the private car are incompatible.
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The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) quickly saw emerging efforts to build three incompatible new standards—VME, NuBus 2, and Futurebus.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'incompatible.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of incompatible
Middle English, from Medieval Latin incompatibilis, from Latin in- + Medieval Latin compatibilis compatible
Other Government and Politics Terms
INCOMPATIBLE Defined for English Language Learners
incompatible
playDefinition of incompatible for English Language Learners
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: not able to exist together without trouble or conflict : not going together well
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: not able to be used together
INCOMPATIBLE Defined for Kids
incompatible
playDefinition of incompatible for Students
1 : not able to exist together without trouble or conflict incompatible workers incompatible plans
2 : not able to be used together This video game is incompatible with that system.
Medical Dictionary
incompatible
playMedical Definition of incompatible
1: unsuitable for use together because of chemical interaction or antagonistic physiological effects incompatible drugs
2of blood or serum : unsuitable for use in a particular transfusion because of the presence of agglutinins that act against the recipient's red blood cells
Learn More about incompatible
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See words that rhyme with incompatible Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for incompatible Spanish Central: Translation of incompatible Nglish: Translation of incompatible for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of incompatible for Arabic speakers
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