Definitions

incongruous

[in-kong-groo-uhs] / ɪnˈkɒŋ gru əs /

ADJECTIVE

out of place; absurd

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bizarre contradictory inappropriate incoherent incompatible

WEAK

alien conflicting disconsonant discordant disparate distorted divergent extraneous fantastic fitful foreign illogical improper inapropos inapt incongruent inconsistent irreconcilable irregular jumbled lopsided mismatched out of keeping rambling shifting twisted unavailing unbalanced unbecoming unconnected uncoordinated uneven unintelligible unpredictable unrelated unsuitable unsuited

Antonyms

WEAK

compatible congruous consistent corresponding fitting harmonious matched suitable uniform

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The talent show seemed a somewhat incongruous place for the list to be read out, given that one of the acts being honoured was the famously gloomy Manchester post-punk band Joy Division.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

Trump was barely more measured in a series of interactions with the media in the incongruous setting of an Easter Egg Roll at the White House on Monday.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

Along steep and narrow trails, a few rustic taverns for wine guzzling seem incongruous in the midst of all of the ruggedness.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

“It was OK, but it was incongruous, getting us nowhere, and in the end we had no money, no nothing.”

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 10, 2025

He paused, pulled on his long black coat, which had hung in the front hall, incongruous beside Mr. Frost’s tweed jacket and fawn mackintosh.

From "The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman

Vocabulary lists containing incongruous

Grade 10, List 2

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Brave New World

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This Week in Words: September 29 - October 5, 2018

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