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Incongruity: meaning, definitions and examples

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incongruity

 

[ ˌɪn.kənˈɡruː.ə.ti ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

sense of being inappropriate or out of place

Incongruity is the state of being incongruous or lacking harmony. It refers to something that is inappropriate, out of place, or not in agreement with its surroundings. This lack of congruity can create a sense of discord or dissonance.

Synonyms

discordance, discrepancy, dissonance, inappropriateness.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
incongruity

Use when something is out of place or inconsistent with its surroundings.

  • The modern sculpture created an incongruity in the ancient garden.
  • Her cheerful mood was an incongruity at the somber event.
inappropriateness

Use when something is not suitable or proper for a particular situation, often with a negative connotation.

  • His casual attire was an inappropriateness at the formal event.
  • The inappropriateness of her remarks made everyone uncomfortable.
discrepancy

Use to highlight a difference or inconsistency, especially in data or facts.

  • The accountant noticed a discrepancy in the financial report.
  • There is a discrepancy between the two eyewitness accounts.
dissonance

Use for a lack of harmony, particularly in sounds or ideas. It can have a negative connotation, suggesting something unpleasant.

  • The dissonance in the choir's singing was hard to ignore.
  • His radical ideas caused a lot of dissonance within the community.
discordance

Use when there is a lack of agreement or harmony, often in relationships or musical tones.

  • There was a clear discordance in their opinions on the project.
  • The discordance between the instruments was evident during the performance.

Examples of usage

  • The incongruity of his casual attire at the formal event was quite noticeable.
  • The incongruity of her sarcastic remarks during the somber meeting raised a few eyebrows.
  • The incongruity between his words and actions made it difficult to trust him.

Translations

Translations of the word "incongruity" in other languages:

🇵🇹 incongruência

🇮🇳 असंगति

🇩🇪 Unstimmigkeit

🇮🇩 ketidaksesuaian

🇺🇦 невідповідність

🇵🇱 niezgodność

🇯🇵 不一致

🇫🇷 incongruité

🇪🇸 incongruencia

🇹🇷 uyumsuzluk

🇰🇷 불일치

🇸🇦 تناقض

🇨🇿 nesoulad

🇸🇰 nezrovnalosť

🇨🇳 不协调

🇸🇮 neskladnost

🇮🇸 ósamræmi

🇰🇿 үйлеспеушілік

🇬🇪 შეუთავსებლობა

🇦🇿 uyğunsuzluq

🇲🇽 incongruencia

Etymology

The word 'incongruity' originated from the Latin word 'incongruitas', which means inconsistency or unsuitability. It has been used in English since the 17th century to describe the state of being inappropriate or out of place. The concept of incongruity has been explored in various fields, including philosophy, literature, and psychology, to understand the impact of conflicting elements in different contexts.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #20,693, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.