incontinent

/ɪnˈkɒntɪnənt/ (bre, ipa) · [ˌɪnkˈɑntənənt] /ɪnˈkɑːntɪnənt/ (ame, ipa) · [ˌɪnkˈɑntənənt] /(ˌ)in-ˈkän-tə-nənt/ (ame, mw)

incontinent — adjective

  • incontinentpositive
  • more incontinentcomparative
  • most incontinentsuperlative

1. unable to control when urine or solid waste leaves the body, usually because of

1.形容詞B2
釋義

unable to control when urine or solid waste leaves the body, usually because of an illness, injury, or the effects of ageing

例句

After the surgery, Mr. Yamamoto became incontinent and needed special care at home.

become incontinent — describes onset of condition

The nurse explained that many elderly stroke patients are temporarily incontinent.

同義詞
  • leaking

    informal, everyday term for urine leakage; less precise than 'incontinent'

  • enuretic

    medical, refers specifically to inability to control urine (nocturnal enuresis)

反義詞
  • continent

    able to control bladder and bowel functions

文法句型

be incontinent

become incontinent

incontinent of [urine/feces]

用法筆記

Predominantly used in medical and caregiving contexts. The construction 'incontinent of + substance' ('incontinent of urine','incontinent of feces') appears in clinical writing. This sense does NOT describe emotional or behavioural self-control.

常見錯誤

❌My grandfather is inconvenient after the stroke.
✅My grandfather is incontinent after the stroke.
💡'inconvenient' means causing trouble; 'incontinent' is the medical term for loss of bladder/bowel control.
❌She is incontinent about her feelings.
✅She shared her feelings openly.
💡'incontinent' for the medical sense only; do not use this word to describe emotional openness.

2. not able to limit or hold back emotions, desires, or actions, especially when ex

2.形容詞C1
釋義

not able to limit or hold back emotions, desires, or actions, especially when expressing anger, spending money, or talking in an excessively free way

例句

The critic called the director's work 'incontinent storytelling' that crammed every idea into one film.

incontinent + storytelling — figurative use critiquing excess

Camila's incontinent spending left her with empty bank accounts at the end of each month.

同義詞
  • unrestrained

    less formal than 'incontinent'; widely used across registers

  • unbridled

    suggests wild, uncontrolled emotion; similar formality to 'incontinent'

  • immoderate

    focuses on excess rather than lack of control; formal register

反義詞
  • restrained

    showing self-control and moderation

  • controlled

    ordinary word for emotional/behavioural discipline

文法句型

incontinent + [emotion/spending/behaviour]

用法筆記

Almost exclusively used in formal or literary criticism to describe excessive, unrestrained expression. Common objects include 'rage', 'spending', 'storytelling', 'laughter', 'remarks'. Do not use in casual conversation — phrases like 'lacks self-control' or 'can't hold back' are more natural.

常見錯誤

❌He was incontinent and couldn't stop eating sweets.
✅He had no self-control when it came to sweets.
💡'incontinent' is too formal and sounds medical; use everyday language for everyday situations.