incongruity
gb/ˌɪŋkɔŋɹˈuɪti/ us/ˌɪŋkɔŋɹˈuɪti/
C1
Anglais
Sens
0 sens
Nom
formal
C1
state
1
lack of fit or consistency
a situation where things do not match or do not seem right together
Schéma d’usage :
incongruity between [thing A] and [thing B]; incongruity in [something]
Erreur fréquente :
Often confused with 'inconvenience' (a small problem) or 'inconclusive' (not certain).
Synonymes
incompatibility (Emphasizes that two things cannot work well together.)
|
mismatch (More everyday; focuses on things not matching.)
|
inconsistency (Often about ideas, statements, or behavior not being consistent.)
Antonymes
consistency (Ideas or parts fit together logically.)
|
harmony (Things match and feel appropriate together.)
|
congruity (Direct opposite: appropriateness and fit.)
Collocations
an incongruity between
|a striking incongruity
|a glaring incongruity
|a subtle incongruity
|a sense of incongruity
|the incongruity of
|point out the incongruity
|highlight the incongruity
|notice the incongruity
|resolve the incongruity
Thèmes
communication
|writing
|analysis
Exemples
- There was an incongruity between his cheerful words and his tense expression.
- The report notes an incongruity in the data collected from the two surveys.
- She couldn’t ignore the incongruity of praising transparency while refusing to answer basic questions.
Exemples pédagogiques
- I noticed an incongruity between the picture and the caption.
- There is an incongruity in his story.
Nom
formal
C1
entity
2
something that seems out of place
an odd thing that does not belong in a situation
Schéma d’usage :
an incongruity in [something]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes use it for any 'strange thing'; it usually implies a contrast with what should fit.
Synonymes
anomaly (Often suggests a deviation from a pattern or rule.)
|
oddity (Less formal; focuses on something unusual.)
|
irregularity (Often used for processes, records, or official matters.)
Antonymes
fit (Everything looks appropriate and belongs.)
|
uniformity (Parts are consistent and similar throughout.)
Collocations
a small incongruity
|a minor incongruity
|an obvious incongruity
|an incongruity in the scene
|an incongruity in the design
|spot an incongruity
|notice an incongruity
|remove the incongruity
Thèmes
daily_life
|art
|writing
Exemples
- The only incongruity in the photo was a modern streetlight behind the medieval castle.
- A single word choice was an incongruity in an otherwise formal speech.
- The editor removed a few incongruities that distracted from the story.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The red chair is an incongruity in this white room.
Nom
formal
C2
abstract
3
unexpected contrast that is funny
a funny difference because things don’t fit together
Schéma d’usage :
the incongruity of [something]; incongruity in [something]
Synonymes
absurdity (Stronger; suggests something is irrational or ridiculous.)
|
comic contrast (Highlights the humorous side of the difference.)
Antonymes
seriousness (No playful or humorous effect.)
Collocations
comic incongruity
|the humor comes from incongruity
|play on incongruity
|create incongruity
|an incongruity effect
|the incongruity of the situation
Thèmes
humor
|media
|art
Exemples
- The comedy relies on the incongruity of a tough detective trapped in a children’s TV show.
- Much of the satire works by exaggerating social incongruities until they become funny.
- Viewers laughed at the incongruity of the grand music playing over such an ordinary scene.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The joke is funny because of the incongruity.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
incongruity
API
GB/ˌɪŋkɔŋɹˈuɪti/
US/ˌɪŋkɔŋɹˈuɪti/
Syllabes et accentuation
in - con - gru - ity (4 syllabes)
Stress on 3rd syllable (gru)
Formes du mot
Noun
- Base: incongruity
- Plural: incongruities, incongruity
Famille de mots
Forms
incongruities
noun
Core family
incongruous
adjective C1
incongruously
adverb C1
Related words
congruent
adjective
congruence
noun
incongruence
noun
Negative and opposite forms
incongruent
adjective
Advanced or less common
congruity
noun
congruous
adjective
Expressions
a glaring incongruity
1/ə ɡlˈɛɹɪŋ ˌɪŋkɔŋɹˈuɪti/
fixed phrase
formal
very obvious mismatch
a mismatch that is easy to see
Exemples
- There’s a glaring incongruity in the timeline: he can’t be in two cities at once.
- The reviewer pointed out a glaring incongruity between the brand’s message and its practices.
- In the final chapter, a glaring incongruity undermines the plot.
a sense of incongruity
1/ə sˈɛns əv ˌɪŋkɔŋɹˈuɪti/
fixed phrase
formal
feeling that something doesn’t fit
a feeling that something is not right together
Exemples
- I had a sense of incongruity as soon as I walked into the meeting.
- Her smile created a sense of incongruity during the serious announcement.
- The lighting gives the scene a sense of incongruity that makes it unsettling.
comic incongruity
1/kˈɑmɪk ˌɪŋkɔŋɹˈuɪti/
fixed phrase
formal
humor from a mismatch
humor because things don’t match
Exemples
- The sketch depends on comic incongruity: a king arguing over fast-food coupons.
- The director uses comic incongruity to keep the tone light even in tense scenes.
- A sudden costume change adds comic incongruity to the performance.