Word
incoherent
Phoneticsin·co·her·ent, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌɪnkoʊˈhɪɹənt/
UK/ɪnkəʊhˈiəɹənt/
Definition
adj. unclear and hard to understand. You use this to describe someone who is talking in a confused way or writing that does not make sense.
adj. lacking clarity, logic, or internal consistency. Often describes speech or writing that is disorganized or physically garbled due to emotion, illness, or poor structure.
Examples
“He was so tired that his explanation was completely incoherent.”
“The witness was so shaken by the accident that her initial statement to the police was entirely incoherent.”
“The essay was criticized for being incoherent, as the author jumped between unrelated theories without providing any logical transitions or supporting evidence.”
Examples
simple
“He was so tired that his explanation was completely incoherent.”
contextual
“The witness was so shaken by the accident that her initial statement to the police was entirely incoherent.”
complex
“The essay was criticized for being incoherent, as the author jumped between unrelated theories without providing any logical transitions or supporting evidence.”
Usage
Often follows linking verbs like 'be', 'become', or 'sound'.
Real-World Examples
“But now here comes Street Fighter, a garish and incoherent mess that amuses in fits and starts but barely improves on the Mortal Kombat movies before it, crushing those hopes in its atomic suplex.” “When a sauce splits, a bread collapses, or a dish tastes incoherent, it is rarely an accident.” Etymology
From in- + coherent.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/incoherent