incompatible

[ in-kuhm-pat-uh-buhl ]

/ ˌɪn kəmˈpæt ə bəl /

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See synonyms for: incompatible / incompatibility / incompatibly on Thesaurus.com

adjective

not compatible; unable to exist together in harmony: She asked for a divorce because they were utterly incompatible.

contrary or opposed in character; discordant: incompatible colors.

that cannot coexist or be conjoined.

Logic.

(of two or more propositions) unable to be true simultaneously.
(of two or more attributes of an object) unable to belong to the object simultaneously; inconsistent.

(of positions, functions, ranks, etc.) unable to be held simultaneously by one person.

Medicine/Medical. of or relating to biological substances that interfere with one another physiologically, as different types of blood in a transfusion.

Pharmacology. of or relating to drugs that interfere with one another chemically or physiologically and therefore cannot be mixed or prescribed together.

noun

Usually incompatibles. incompatible persons or things.

an incompatible drug or the like.

incompatibles, Logic.

two or more propositions that cannot be true simultaneously.
two or more attributes that cannot simultaneously belong to the same object.

OTHER WORDS FOR incompatible

1 unsuitable, unsuited.

1, 2 inharmonious.

2 contradictory.

See synonyms for incompatible on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of incompatible

From the Medieval Latin word incompatibilis, dating back to 1555–65. See in-³, compatible

synonym study for incompatible

1. See inconsistent.

OTHER WORDS FROM incompatible

in·com·pat·i·bil·i·ty, in·com·pat·i·ble·ness, nounin·com·pat·i·bly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use incompatible in a sentence

Measurements in which the electron was replaced by a heavier particle, called a muon, gave us a different answer—and the two results were incompatible.
Unstable helium adds a limit on the ongoing saga of the proton’s size|John Timmer|January 27, 2021|Ars Technica
Many systems can’t talk to each other, and often rely on employees to compensate for incompatible medical record systems.
This is how America gets its vaccines|Cat Ferguson|January 27, 2021|MIT Technology Review
Many experts in authoritarianism warn those beliefs are incompatible with democracy as we know it.
Coup attempts usually usher in long stretches of democratic decline, data shows|Christopher Ingraham|January 22, 2021|Washington Post
Unfortunately, the full-sized 30-series cards are massive and power hungry, which makes them incompatible with portable PCs.
The most exciting new laptop tech coming in 2021|Stan Horaczek|January 20, 2021|Popular-Science

If Animal Crossing usually does the trick but suddenly fails to charm you out of your mood, it may simply be incompatible with your current mindset.
Stressed out? Video games can help—if you follow these tips.|Stan Horazek|January 20, 2021|Popular-Science
Now it can't open on my phone due to what appears to be software incompatibility.
My Week on Jewish Tinder|Emily Shire|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The incompatibility between motherhood and tech, it seems, runs far deeper than the timing of pregnancy alone.
Don’t Be Fooled by Apple and Facebook, Egg Freezing Is Not a Benefit|Samantha Allen|October 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That incompatibility begins in an education system that is wary of encouraging original thinking and potentially disobedience.
China’s Schools Teaches Kids to Take Tests, Obey the State, and Not Much More|Junheng Li|November 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The same incompatibility of temperament would still exist; besides, on no account will I consent to be an expense to you.
The Seven Cardinal Sins: Envy and Indolence|Eugne Sue
There is no business man who will pretend that there is not often an actual incompatibility if he is honest.
A Traveler from Altruria: Romance|William Dean Howells
Here, as in other respects, Celt and Teuton show an incompatibility and oppositeness which strongly suggest difference of origin.
The New Stone Age in Northern Europe|John M. Tyler
The boy is unfortunate if the "incompatibility" end in desertion or divorce, and equally unfortunate if it does not.
The Minister and the Boy|Allan Hoben
But the experiments had been foredoomed anyway,—through the incompatibility of producers' cooperation with trade unionism.
A History of Trade Unionism in the United States|Selig Perlman

British Dictionary definitions for incompatible

incompatible

/ (ˌɪnkəmˈpætəbəl) /

adjective

incapable of living or existing together in peace or harmony; conflicting or antagonistic

opposed in nature or quality; inconsistent

(of an office, position, etc) only able to be held by one person at a time

med (esp of two drugs or two types of blood) incapable of being combined or used together; antagonistic

logic (of two propositions) unable to be both true at the same time

(of plants)

not capable of forming successful grafts
incapable of fertilizing each other

maths another word for inconsistent (def. 4)

noun

(often plural) a person or thing that is incompatible with another

Derived forms of incompatible

incompatibility or incompatibleness, nounincompatibly, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for incompatible

incompatible

[ ĭn′kəm-păt′ə-bəl ]

adj.

Incapable of associating or blending or of being associated or blended because of disharmony, incongruity, or antagonism.

Producing an undesirable effect when used in combination with a particular substance, as a medicine in combination with alcohol.

Not suitable for combination or administration because of immunological differences, as blood types.

Other words from incompatible

in′com•pat•i•bil′i•ty (ĭn′kəm-păt′ə-bĭl′ĭ-tē) n.

incompatible

OTHER WORDS FOR incompatible

Origin of incompatible

synonym study for incompatible

OTHER WORDS FROM incompatible

Words related to incompatible

How to use incompatible in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for incompatible

Derived forms of incompatible

Medical definitions for incompatible

Other words from incompatible