incongruity

noun

in·​con·​gru·​i·​ty ˌin-kən-ˈgrü-ə-tē How to pronounce incongruity (audio)
-ˌkän-
plural incongruities
Synonyms of incongruity
1
: the quality or state of being incongruous
2
: something that is incongruous

Synonyms of incongruity

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Examples of incongruity in a Sentence

she's an incongruity: an impeccably groomed woman who keeps a messy house
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
To them, cartoons are just a part of life, and that incongruity generates much of the film’s humor. — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026 The passing of 30 years has only enhanced the appeal of the group’s Nashville detour, shifting attention from the incongruity of Ween cutting a country record to the joyous chemistry between these old pros and young punks. — Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Pitchfork, 1 Aug. 2026 Irony involves incongruity, while tragicomedy is about possible congruity—not mutual erasure but the capacity for the tragic and comic to coexist. — Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 14 June 2026 Nobody is more alive to the comic incongruity than the man himself. — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for incongruity

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1532, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of incongruity was circa 1532

Rhymes for incongruity

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Browse Nearby Words

incongruently
incongruity
incongruous
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Cite this Entry

“Incongruity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incongruity. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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