Definition

The quality of being out of place or not fitting in; a lack of harmony or agreement between things.

Example

The incongruousness of the modern building in the historic district surprised many visitors.

Conversation

Did you notice the incongruousness in that last movie we watched?

Yeah, it was strange how the serious scenes clashed with the comedy.

Exactly! It really took me out of the moment.

Same here — I couldn't decide if I was supposed to laugh or feel sad.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Incongruousness → It is formed from "in-" (meaning not), "congruere" (meaning to agree or fit together), and "-ness" (meaning the state of being). The word describes the state of not fitting together or being out of harmony.

Memory Tip

Think of 'not' fitting together ('in-' means not, and 'congruere' means to agree) — that's why incongruousness refers to a lack of harmony.

Visually Confused Words