incongruous

/ɪnˈkɒŋɡruəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪnˈkɑːŋɡruəs/ (ame, ipa) · /(ˌ)in-ˈkäŋ-grə-wəs/ (ame, mw)

incongruous — 形容詞

  • incongruouspositive
  • more incongruouscomparative
  • most incongruoussuperlative

1. describing something that seems strange or surprising because it does not match

1.形容詞C1
釋義

不協調；突兀

與周圍環境或情況不搭配的

describing something that seems strange or surprising because it does not match the things, people, or situation around it

例句

Mei-Lin's formal dress looked incongruous among the jeans and T-shirts at the outdoor party.

Mei-Lin 的正式洋裝在戶外派對的牛仔褲和 T 恤中，顯得很不協調。

pattern: incongruous among + [plural group]

The tall glass office building seemed incongruous next to the old brick houses on that street.

那棟高聳的玻璃辦公大樓蓋在舊磚房旁邊，看起來格格不入。

同義詞
  • out of place

    more common and less formal; used in everyday speech

  • inappropriate

    stronger judgment — implies something is wrong or unsuitable, not just visually mismatched

  • odd

    broader meaning; can mean simply unusual without the sense of mismatch

  • incompatible

    more technical; suggests two things cannot work together or exist together

反義詞
  • fitting

    naturally suitable for the situation

  • appropriate

    correct or right for the circumstances

  • harmonious

    visually or naturally in agreement with surroundings

文法句型

incongruous among/next to/in/with + noun phrase

link verb + incongruous

find + object + incongruous

用法筆記

Often used with prepositions like 'among', 'next to', 'in', or 'with' to show what the mismatch is with. Also common in the patterns 'find something incongruous' and 'seem/look/appear incongruous'. This is a formal to neutral word; in casual conversation, 'out of place' is more common.

常見錯誤

❌The modern painting was incongruous in the old museum.
✅The modern painting looked incongruous among the old paintings in the museum.
💡'incongruous' alone as a stative verb ('was incongruous') is grammatically fine but less natural than using a linking verb like 'looked', 'seemed', or 'felt' before it.
❌His behaviour was incongruous with the meeting.
✅His casual behaviour seemed incongruous at the formal meeting.
💡'incongruous with' is correct but 'incongruous at/among/in' is more natural when referring to a setting or group.