Inconsistent
1. Not consistent; showing inconsistency; irreconcilable; discordant; at variance, especially. As regards character, sentiment, or action; incompatible; incongruous; contradictory. Compositions of this nature . . . Show that wisdom and virtue are far from being inconsistent with politeness and good humor. (Addison)
2. Not exhibiting uniformity of sentiment, steadiness to principle, etc.; unequal; fickle; changeable. Ah, how unjust to nature, and himself, Is thoughtless, thankless, inconsistent man. (Young)
Synonym: incompatible, incongruous, irreconcilable, discordant, repugnant, contradictory.
inconsistent, incongruous, incompatible. Things are incongruous when they are not suited to each other, so that their union is unbecoming; inconsistent when they are opposed to each other, so as render it improper or wrong; incompatible when they can not coexist, and it is therefore impossible to unite them. Habitual levity of mind is incongruous with the profession of a clergyman; it is inconsistent with his ordination vows; it is incompatible with his permanent usefulness. Incongruity attaches to the modes and qualities of things; incompatibility attaches to their essential attributes; inconsistency attaches to the actions, sentiments, etc, of men.
Origin: Pref. In- not – consistent: cf. F. Inconsistant.
Dictionary > Inconsistent
You will also like...
Darwin and Natural Selection
This tutorial investigates the genetic diversity in more detail. It also delineates how certain alleles are favored over..
New Zealand’s Biodiversity
Find out more about New Zealand's unique biodiversity by exploring a range of different ecosystems and the key role of s..
Dominance
This tutorial presents Gregor Mendel's law of dominance. Learn more about this form of inheritance and how it can be pre..
The Evolutionary Development of Multicellular Organisms
Multicellular organisms evolved. The first ones were likely in the form of sponges. Multicellularity led to the evolutio..
The Homo Species
The evolution of the species of the genus "Homo" led to the emergence of modern humans. Find out more about human evolut..
Adaptive Radiation
The diversification of several new species from a recent ancestral source, each adapted to utilize or occupy a vacant ad..