adj · noun · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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CMU ARPABET:IH2 N K OW0 HH IH1 R AH0 N T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Not coherent.
Not making logical sense; not logically connected or consistent.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
When we confronted her, she gave us a hasty, incoherent explanation.
After just a few drinks, he becomes incoherent.
1765, William Warburton, The Divine Legation of Moses, London: A. Millar and J. and R. Tonson, 4th edition, Volume 3, Book 4, Section 4, p. 103, note z, [...] this historian of men and manners goes on in the same rambling incoherent manner [...]
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Not coherent.
Not holding together physically; loose; unconnected.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Not coherent.
Not cohering socially, not united.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
A member of a short-lived satirical and irreverent French art movement founded by Parisian writer and publisher Jules Lévy in 1882.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: historical
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adjective
Meaning 5
(physics) of waves having no stable definite or stable phase relation
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: coherent
6
adjective
Meaning 6
without logical or meaningful connection
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a turgid incoherent presentation
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: coherent
7
adjective satellite
Meaning 7
unable to express yourself clearly or fluently
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
felt tongue-tied with embarrassment
incoherent with grief
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: tongue-tied
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Italic *n̥- Latin in-bor. Middle English in- English in- Proto-Indo-European *ḱe? Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm Proto-Italic *kom Proto-Italic *kom- Latin con- Latin haereō Latin cohaereō Latin cohaerēnsder. Middle French coherentder. English coherent English incoherent From in- + coherent.
Across languages
Translations
45 source translations are retained for this English entry.
