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
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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
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Recent Examples of incongruous
Christmas lights glow above, strung along the streetlamps, incongruous against the heavy security presence that dominates the scene.
—
Keir Simmons, NBC news, 19 Dec. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for incongruous
Keir Simmons, NBC news, 19 Dec. 2025
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
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
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That approach is inconsistent with Texas law and unfair to taxpayers.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
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Tagovailoa got benched last year because of his inconsistent performance and lack of velocity on his throws.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Its old building, constructed in 1939 for the Social Security Board, needed expensive renovations; reportedly had ancient, faulty wiring; was far too big; and was generally unsuitable for modern journalism.—
The Atlantic,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The list of skilled talent deemed unsuitable by the coaching staff since the spring of 2024 includes the list above, married to names like Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson, all of whom were found wanting.—
Allan Mitchell,
New York Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Various surveys have produced conflicting results about Arizona's favorite Super Bowl snack over the years.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
5 Feb. 2026
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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
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Yet complaints of improper and fraudulent enrollment have surged since the pandemic.—
Bloomberg Opinion,
Twin Cities,
15 Feb. 2026
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These symptoms can indicate bacterial or fungal problems, pests, or improper care like too much or too little water.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Some will always believe their placement incorrect.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
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Both parties claim problems such as invalid signatures and missing or incorrect voter information on petitions that judicial candidates submit to secure a place on the ballot.—
Kamal Morgan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Now Rubio was telling liberal centrist foreign leaders that their entire outlook was wrong, echoing the far-right populist opponents who might well unseat them in upcoming elections.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
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And so the custodians became irate when photographs emerged of the actor Sarah Pidgeon, who plays Bessette in Murphy’s show, looking all wrong on set.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Many people have a profound attachment to suffering and staying in unhappy relationships and so a lot of my work is trying to figure out why.—
Daisy Jones,
Vogue,
10 Feb. 2026
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The day after the Super Bowl, some people are guaranteed to be unhappy.—
Mike Snider,
AZCentral.com,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Incongruous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incongruous. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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