Word: incongruous (adjective)

Associations

The word "incongruous" means something that does not fit well with its surroundings or situation; it seems strange or out of place.

• "His bright red hat looked incongruous at the formal wedding." Here, the hat does not match the formal setting.
• "The modern furniture was incongruous in the old, rustic house." The new style does not fit with the old style.
• "Her cheerful attitude was incongruous during the serious meeting." Her mood did not match the serious tone. A well-known synonym is "out of place." The difference is that "incongruous" is more formal and often used to describe things that clash in style, mood, or appearance, while "out of place" is more casual.

Substitution

You can replace "incongruous" with:

• "out of place" – less formal, same meaning.
• "discordant" – emphasizes a clash or lack of harmony, often in sound or style.
• "unfitting" – means not suitable or appropriate. Changing the word can make the sentence more casual or more descriptive of the type of mismatch.

Deconstruction

The word "incongruous" comes from Latin:

• Prefix: "in-" means "not."
• Root: "congru-" comes from "congruere," meaning "to agree" or "to fit together."
• Suffix: "-ous" means "full of" or "having the quality of." So "incongruous" literally means "not fitting together."

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when something felt incongruous to you? Maybe a place, a situation, or a piece of clothing?
• How would you describe a person’s behavior that seems incongruous in a serious or formal event?
• Can you find examples in movies or books where something or someone looks or feels incongruous? Why do you think the author used this word?