1
as in inappropriate
not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation
there's an incongruous modernism to the actor's performance in this period piece
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inconsistent
not being in agreement or harmony
incongruous theories about the origins of matter
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 incongruous
During the interview, Villa is wearing a ring from her Close Encounters collection, which showcases incongruous animals and plants living side-by-side.
—
Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 27 May 2026
This rigid, top-down process can seem incongruous with Esperanto’s democratic principles.
—Katie Thornton, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026
Many objected to the movie’s inconsistent mythology, weak character development, fundamental changes to the persona of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), and an overall lack of coherent world-building across Abrams and Johnson’s two incongruous installments.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 23 May 2026
Passages may feel incongruous at times, generating themselves from unknown electrical triggers, but the stretches of silence Doran and Carlile weave throughout act as a kind of connective tissue.
—Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for incongruous
Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 27 May 2026
This rigid, top-down process can seem incongruous with Esperanto’s democratic principles.
—Katie Thornton, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026
Many objected to the movie’s inconsistent mythology, weak character development, fundamental changes to the persona of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), and an overall lack of coherent world-building across Abrams and Johnson’s two incongruous installments.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 23 May 2026
Passages may feel incongruous at times, generating themselves from unknown electrical triggers, but the stretches of silence Doran and Carlile weave throughout act as a kind of connective tissue.
—Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for incongruous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incongruous
Adjective
-
Others, however, said naming the animal after the president was inappropriate.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
4 June 2026
-
Enforcement of inappropriate corner crossing will continue to be difficult for FWP, but Callaghan notes that enforcement is only one part of the relationship balance that FWP Director Clark noted between private property rights and public-access rights.—
Andrew McKean,
Outdoor Life,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
Studies examining how alcohol affects people’s eating habits have produced inconsistent results, University of Sydney researchers reported in Obesity Reviews.—
Teresa Mull,
FOXNews.com,
6 June 2026
-
As Manaea walked off the mound Tuesday night, Mendoza clapped his hands from the bottom step of the Mets’ dugout in Seattle with exuberance inconsistent with the Mets’ early June standing.—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
Adjective
-
There are significant worries that AI can readily go off the rails or otherwise dispense unsuitable or even egregiously inappropriate mental health advice.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
-
The trend was further compounded in koalas with chlamydiosis -- a common bacterial disease among the species -- and those found in unsuitable conditions, Mella said.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
26 May 2026
Adjective
-
Brendan Banfield and the 26-year-old au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhães, both took the stand during the double-murder trial and offered conflicting accounts about the killings.—
Nicki Brown,
CNN Money,
5 June 2026
-
Mom isn’t a fan of conflicting narratives.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
Years of improper cleaning can turn them into a petri dish rather than a pretty place to chop veggies.—
Heather Bien,
Southern Living,
5 June 2026
-
The issue stems from the improper application of primer, which is necessary to ensure proper bonding between the glass panel and the sliding frame, the recall report states.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
The inspectors also noted improper date marking and incorrect food storage practices.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 June 2026
-
According to prosecutors, Kroger initially miscalculated the calorie content of the products when they were introduced in 2021 and displayed incorrect calorie values on both FDA nutrition labels and front-of-package advertising.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 June 2026
Adjective
-
Wirskye then asked who was wrong that day.—
Dawn White,
CBS News,
7 June 2026
-
Lauren McCormick, a spokeswoman for travel insurance provider Squaremouth, says your phone is the most efficient tool for protecting your travel investment if things go wrong.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Adjective
-
Carting around unhappy campers in 100-degree weather and squeezing work into a shorter window is not exactly being poolside with a marg.—
Abby McCloskey,
Twin Cities,
4 June 2026
-
Mansfield city hall a point of contention Melissa Perez, who ultimately lost to Simmons in last year’s council race, is one of those unhappy with Mansfield’s leadership and its direction.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Incongruous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incongruous. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
