Incongruous

/ɪnˈkɒŋɡruəs/

Meaning & Definition

adjective

not in harmony or keeping with the surroundings or other aspects of something; out of place.

She wore an incongruous outfit that clashed with the formal dress code of the event.

lacking propriety; inappropriate.

His laughter during the serious meeting was incongruous and unsettling.

contradictory; disagreeing.

The incongruous nature of the comedian's sad jokes left the audience confused.

Latin 'incongruus', meaning 'inconsistent, unsuitable'.

incongruous behavior

actions that seem inconsistent with the expected norms.

incongruous situation

a circumstance that appears ill-suited to the context.

incongruence

the state of being incongruous.

incongruously

in a manner that is not harmonious.

awkward or ill-fitting.

His attempt to fit in felt very incongruous during the serious discussion.

out of sync.

Her upbeat attitude was incongruous with the somber setting.