Incoherent Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
๐คช
incoherent
[หษชn.koสหhษชr.ษnt ]
Definitions
speech
Lacking cohesion or connection; unintelligible.
Synonyms
confused, disjointed, muddled, rambling.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| incoherent |
Use 'incoherent' when someone's speech or writing lacks clarity and logical connection, often making it difficult to understand.
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| confused |
Use 'confused' when someone is unable to think clearly, understand something properly, or is mixing up different things.
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| disjointed |
Use 'disjointed' when talking about something, like speech or writing, that is not in a logical order and is hard to follow.
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| rambling |
Use 'rambling' when someone is talking or writing in a long, confusing way without a clear direction or purpose.
|
| muddled |
Use 'muddled' when someone's thoughts or ideas are confusing and mixed up, often leading to lack of clarity.
|
Examples of usage
- The patient's speech was incoherent and difficult to understand.
- His answers were so incoherent that it was impossible to follow his line of thought.
writing
Not logically connected; disjointed.
Synonyms
disorganized, illogical, inconsistent, jumbled.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| incoherent |
Used to describe speech or writing that is unclear and difficult to understand.
|
| inconsistent |
Indicates something that does not stay the same throughout, often related to behavior, results, or quality.
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| illogical |
Describes reasoning or arguments that don't follow logical principles or are not rational.
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| jumbled |
Used to describe something that is mixed up in a confusing way, often referring to words, ideas, or objects.
|
| disorganized |
Refers to something that lacks order or structure, often related to physical spaces or planning.
|
Examples of usage
- The essay received a low grade due to its incoherent structure.
- Her thoughts were so incoherent that the reader struggled to follow the storyline.
Translations
To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.
Interesting Facts
Psychology
- Incoherence can be a symptom of certain mental health conditions where a person may struggle to express their thoughts clearly.
- Cognitive dissonance, which occurs when a person's beliefs conflict with their actions, can lead to incoherent thoughts as they try to rationalize their feelings.
Communication
- Effective communication relies on coherence; when people speak in incoherent ways, it can lead to misunderstandings.
- In writing, incoherent sentences can confuse readers, making it important to organize thoughts before sharing them.
Arts and Literature
- In literature, authors may use incoherent narratives to convey chaos or confusion, reflecting characters' mental states.
- Surrealist art often embraces incoherence, presenting images that challenge logical interpretation and provoke emotional responses.
Technology
- In computer science, incoherence can refer to data that is unorganized, making it difficult for algorithms to process or understand.
- Natural language processing tools often aim to transform incoherent speech into coherent text to improve communication between humans and machines.
Origin of 'incoherent'
Main points about word origin
- The word comes from the Latin 'incohaerentem' meaning 'not sticking together', which captures its essence of disconnection.
- The prefix 'in-' means 'not', while 'coherent' comes from 'cohaerere', meaning 'to stick together' in Latin, highlighting the opposite meaning.
The word 'incoherent' originated from the Latin word 'incohรฆrens', which means 'not coherent'. The prefix 'in-' signifies 'not', while 'coherent' comes from the Latin 'cohaerentem', meaning 'sticking together'. The term has been used in English since the 16th century to describe things that lack logical connection or cohesion.
See also: coherently.