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
His closing joke, which includes a Taylor Swift song that feels pleasantly incongruous with the rest of Maron’s persona, builds to a surprisingly hopeful ending while still being a joke about Maron’s acceptance of death.
—
Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 3 Dec. 2025
The pairing was just aesthetically incongruous enough to be delightful.
—Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
The comedy, often quite broad, is occasionally jarringly incongruous, and the dramatic stakes of the season-long arc sometimes vanish entirely.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2025
Granting personhood rights to a river may seem incongruous.
—Shaun McKinnon, AZCentral.com, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incongruous
Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 3 Dec. 2025
The pairing was just aesthetically incongruous enough to be delightful.
—Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
The comedy, often quite broad, is occasionally jarringly incongruous, and the dramatic stakes of the season-long arc sometimes vanish entirely.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2025
Granting personhood rights to a river may seem incongruous.
—Shaun McKinnon, AZCentral.com, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incongruous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incongruous
Adjective
-
The dashboard may identify patients who may have started on a new medication that interacts with a DOAC, patients who have had a change in their kidney function or who have been prescribed an inappropriate dose.—
David Cox,
NBC news,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Other emails from the latest crop of the Epstein files include other inappropriate comments about Beatrice and Eugenie.—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Carmakers — historically major buyers of ads during the big game — have been inconsistent with advertising during the Super Bowl in recent years, with only a handful putting out spots each year.—
Michael Wayland,
CNBC,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Addressing Gaps in the Market The company’s founder established XPRO Jet Charters after spending years flying privately and experiencing inconsistent service firsthand.—
Ethan Stone,
USA Today,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Of the 47 places Western Ghats king cobras were rescued across the state between 2002 and 2024, five were completely unsuitable locations, including one snake found in a port city around 120 kilometers away by train from its natural range.—
Richard Kemeny,
Scientific American,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Nelly Korda won for the first time in 14 months without having to hit a shot Sunday when the LPGA Tour reduced the season-opening Tournament of Champions to 54 holes because of wind and cold that led officials to deem Lake Nona unsuitable for a final round.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
2 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Various surveys have produced conflicting results about Arizona's favorite Super Bowl snack over the years.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
5 Feb. 2026
-
She's also reached out to sheriffs across the country and to former federal prosecutors to reconcile conflicting legal interpretations, acting as a behind-the-scenes conduit for change.—
Nicole Sganga,
CBS News,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The higher the improper payment rate, the bigger the financial hit.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Young children are still learning what are proper and improper behaviors.—
Lina Ruiz,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Conversely, the state Attorney General's office believes applying the anti-nepotism law in this situation would be an incorrect and overly broad interpretation.—
David Bauerlein,
Florida Times-Union,
4 Feb. 2026
-
The state’s attorneys said that too was incorrect.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Nichols and Vann concede that handing the cup with the apple juice and urine mix to Smith’s son to drink was wrong and Vann has expressed regret for that.—
Jane Harper,
Dallas Morning News,
7 Feb. 2026
-
The crash involved a wrong-way driver on eastbound I-84, according to an Idaho State Police Facebook post.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Domingo Morel, a professor at New York University who studies state takeovers of local schools, said most local residents wind up unhappy with the methods used by state interventionists and the results.—
Bri Hatch,
Chalkbeat,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Audrey, the single and childless and PhD-less product of a stable but unhappy home, has fallen short of the life planned out for her by her parents.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Incongruous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incongruous. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
