incongruous
/ɪnˈkɒn.ɡɹʊu.ʌs/
Group 12Difficulty 2/3
Definition
- (adjective)
- Not in harmony or keeping with the surroundings or other aspects of something GRE
Example in Context
The gleaming modern tower looked incongruous amid the weathered historic buildings of the old quarter, as if dropped there from another century.
Synonyms
mismatchedoddout of place
Etymology
Things that do NOT agree or match up in harmony.
- in- (Latin) — not
- congruere (Latin) — to agree
Memory Aid
🤢Sounds like “in con goo”
Seeing a fancy wedding in a pigsty is INCONGRUOUS and makes you feel IN CON GOO!
Visual Association
🦄A unicorn sipping tea at a grungy biker bar, completely out of place.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “incongruous” mean on the GRE?
incongruous (adjective) means “Not in harmony or keeping with the surroundings or other aspects of something”. The gleaming modern tower looked incongruous amid the weathered historic buildings of the old quarter, as if dropped there from another century.
How to remember “incongruous” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “incongruous” sounds like “in con goo”. Seeing a fancy wedding in a pigsty is INCONGRUOUS and makes you feel IN CON GOO!
What are synonyms for “incongruous”?
Common synonyms: mismatched, odd, out of place.