incoherent

What does “incoherent” mean?

adjective.(of spoken or written language) expressed in an incomprehensible or confusing way; unclear.

SAT Usage

the term is often found in passages discussing communication, psychology, or literary analysis. It emphasizes a lack of clarity or organization in thoughts or arguments, suggesting confusion rather than mere complexity, and differs from related terms like "disjointed," which implies a lack of logical connection rather than outright incomprehensibility.

Common Confusions

Incoherent implies a complete lack of clarity in expression, while disjointed usually suggests a fragmented or disconnected structure in thoughts, but not necessarily a total inability to understand.

Example Sentences

• Fear made his testimony incoherent and hard to follow.

Word Parts: How to Remember “incoherent”

Break “incoherent” into its parts: in- (not) + -here- (stick, cling). Knowing roots like these helps you decode unfamiliar SAT vocabulary.

• Prefix: in- not (Latin)
• Root: -here- stick, cling (Latin)