incongruity

noun

in·​con·​gru·​i·​ty ˌin-kən-ˈgrü-ə-tē How to pronounce incongruity (audio)
-ˌkän-
plural incongruities
1
: the quality or state of being incongruous
2
: something that is incongruous

Examples of incongruity in a Sentence

she's an incongruity: an impeccably groomed woman who keeps a messy house
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
So the incongruity might be coming from a place of the myth of meritocracy. Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025 Bloomberg cited mortgage experts who said there were no signs of wrongdoing from Bessent based on the conflicting agreements, arguing that incongruity in mortgage filings doesn’t always provide proof of fraud. Alex Gangitano, The Hill, 17 Sep. 2025 Likewise, the airy comedy (boosted by Thomas Newman’s sprightly if familiar-sounding score) insists on the seeming incongruity between the film’s lovely setting and its darker subject matter. Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 22 Aug. 2025 In contemplating the religious system of the Aztecs, one is struck with its apparent incongruity, as if some portion of it had emanated from a comparatively refined people, open to gentle influences, while the rest breathes a spirit of unmitigated ferocity. Sebastian Purcell august 18, Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for incongruity

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1532, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of incongruity was circa 1532

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Cite this Entry

“Incongruity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incongruity. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.

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