1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

incoherent

adjective

ˌin-kō-ˈhir-ənt How to pronounce incoherent (audio)
Definition of incoherentnext
1
as in confusing
not clearly or logically connected the thriller's incoherent plot left movie audiences wondering who did what

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in loose
consisting of particles that do not stick together a driveway covered with incoherent gravel

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of incoherent This experiment was different since sunlight is highly polarized but incoherent in space and time. — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 6 Aug. 2026 Rossi treated the paint surface, meanwhile, by removing oxidized varnish, decayed retouching, and incoherent integrations and additions, allowing viewers to appreciate the luminosity of Fra Angelico’s palette and the precision of his gilding. — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 5 Aug. 2026 Moreover, whether intentional or the result of incoherent policy, ambiguity can allow both Washington and Tehran to claim wins. — Erik Lin-Greenberg, Foreign Affairs, 31 July 2026 How does Etna—who keeps close company with humans but is by definition marginalized by them—hold on to himself in the face of rank, incoherent brutalities? — Rachel Vorona Cote, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for incoherent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incoherent
  1. confusing
  2. loose
  3. inconsistent
  4. disjointed
  5. confused
  6. frustrating
  7. bizarre
  8. absurd
Adjective
  • Her coaching staff has worn IM8 swag, though things can get confusing because her coach, Anton Dubrov, is now part of the Eight Sleep team.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The decade-long fight — including the defeat of county efforts to keep the sand open to all, flip-flopping state laws and landowner lawsuits — has left beachgoers to navigate a confusing patchwork of beach access.
    — Debbie Elliott, NPR, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of confusing
Adjective
  • The goal came after Furuhashi got loose on a breakaway up the middle of the pitch, only to be felled by New England’s Will Sands in the center of the box, leaving referee Drew Fischer with an easy penalty call.
    — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • After Mi-ok’s recent weight loss, her wedding ring has become loose.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of loose
Adjective
  • Some of his movement was inconsistent, like all over the place.
    — Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Add an inconsistent Mookie Betts and an incredibly streaky Teoscar Hernández to an already-shaky lineup.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of inconsistent
Adjective
  • The sixth-year safety is wearing the green dot for the first time in his career this season and calling the defense, but even still, how could the Colts look that disjointed and unprepared after so much talk about execution and urgency?
    — James Boyd, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
  • The team put together by new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and coached by Hafley looked young, inexperienced and disjointed.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 13 Sep. 2026
Definition of disjointed
Adjective
  • Other magpies gathered around it, as if saddened and confused.
    — Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Amanda Seyfried‘s sad school teacher is the heart and confused soul of Tim Blake Nelson‘s latest directorial outing The Life and Deaths of Wilson Shedd.
    — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of confused
Adjective
  • For general appreciators, the series’ excesses and redundancies are likely to be frustrating, as are its frequent lack of focus and general sense of over-sanitization.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Indeed, Infiniti’s wide-eyed portrait of a prodigy is equal parts inspired and frustrating.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of frustrating
Adjective
  • The bizarre explanation brought an end to an episode that generated widespread attention online after Pierre initially accused the courier of stealing the order.
    — Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • An exhausting, head-spinning and often downright silly offseason is officially over after college football really kicked off on Thursday (after the always bizarre Week 0 last weekend).
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of bizarre
Adjective
  • The English dialogue for these films was often absurd and barely coherent, written to conform to the movements of the actors’ mouths.
    — Victor Garber, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Correa’s contract contains a full no-trade clause, though any thought of the Astros moving him seems absurd.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of absurd

Browse Nearby Words

incoherences
incoherent
incombustible
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Cite this Entry

“Incoherent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incoherent. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of volition

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 18
See More

Popular

See More

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
crayons-in-a-circle
Guess the Color Quiz Questions that use the whole box of crayons.
See All