incoherent

[in-koh-heer-uhnt, -her-]

adjective

1. without logical or meaningful connection; disjointed; rambling.

   an incoherent sentence.

   Synonyms: muddled, irrational, confused

2. characterized by such thought or language, as a person.

   incoherent with rage.

3. not coherent or cohering.

   an incoherent mixture.

4. lacking physical cohesion; loose.

   incoherent dust.

5. lacking unity or harmony of elements.

   an incoherent public.

6. lacking congruity of parts; uncoordinated.

7. different or incompatible by nature, as things.

8. Physics.,  (of a wave) having a low degree of coherence.

incoherent

/ ˌɪnkəʊˈhɪərənt /

adjective

1. lacking in clarity or organization; disordered

2. unable to express oneself clearly; inarticulate

3. physics (of two or more waves) having the same frequency but not the same phase

   incoherent light

Other Word Forms

• incoherence noun
• incoherently adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of incoherent¹

First recorded in 1620–30; in- ³ + coherent

Example Sentences

It’s not unusual for fascist movements to be incoherent in their ideology or goals.

From Salon

An incoherent movie is hardly the vessel for that kind of lesson.

From Los Angeles Times

Labour MP Paula Barker said: "Whilst grateful for the concessions, this has further laid bare the incoherent and shambolic nature of this process - it is the most unedifying spectacle that I have ever seen."

From BBC

Since last Friday, he has governed, and tried to conduct diplomacy, via social media with dozens of posts, most of them incoherent.

From Salon

He was preening for the press, warming to another of his vicious, incoherent jeremiads when his Canadian host suggested he join the others in a bit of work.

From Salon

Related Words

• disjointed 
• incomprehensible 
• incongruous 
• irrational 
• jumbled www.thesaurus.com
• muddled 
• puzzling 
• rambling 
• uneven