inconsistent

/,inkən'sistənt/

Thân thiện

The witness gave inconsistent statements during the trial.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Not in agreement or harmony: Describes things that contradict each other or do not match.
   • Not staying the same in behavior, quality, or principles: Describes something that changes or varies, lacking steadiness or uniformity.
   • Not compatible or in accordance with something: Describes something that is not suitable or does not align with a standard, rule, or expectation.

Usage and Examples

• Describing contradictory information:
  • The two witnesses gave inconsistent accounts of the accident. (Their stories did not agree.)
  • His actions are inconsistent with his words. (His actions do not match what he says.)
• Describing changeable quality or behavior:
  • The team's performance has been inconsistent this season. (Their performance has varied, sometimes good, sometimes bad.)
  • She is an inconsistent worker, sometimes excellent and sometimes careless. (Her work quality is not steady.)
• Describing incompatibility:
  • Such harsh punishment is inconsistent with our company's values. (The punishment does not align with the values.)

Advanced Usage

• Formal/Logical Context: In logic or arguments, "inconsistent" describes statements that cannot all be true at the same time.
  • The suspect's alibi was inconsistent with the forensic evidence.
• Scientific/Technical Context: Refers to data, results, or theories that do not conform to a pattern or expected model.
  • The experimental data was inconsistent, requiring further review.

Variants and Related Words

• Inconsistency (noun): The state or fact of being inconsistent.
  • The report highlighted several inconsistencies in the financial records.
• Inconsistently (adverb): In an inconsistent manner.
  • The policy has been applied inconsistently across different departments.

Synonyms

• Contradictory: Mutually opposed or inconsistent.
• Incompatible: Incapable of existing together in harmony.
• Erratic: Not even or regular in pattern or movement; unpredictable.
• Unreliable: Not able to be relied upon; not consistent.

Antonyms

• Consistent: Acting or done in the same way over time, especially so as to be fair or accurate.
• Compatible: Able to exist or occur together without conflict.
• Steady: Firmly fixed, supported, or balanced; not shaking or moving.
• Constant: Occurring continuously over a period of time.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• To be inconsistent with: To not be in keeping with; to conflict with.
  • Your conclusion is inconsistent with the facts presented.
• Inconsistent at best: A phrase used to criticize something as being very unreliable or variable, even in its most favorable interpretation.
  • His attendance has been inconsistent at best.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. not in agreement
2. not capable of being made consistent or harmonious
   • inconsistent accounts
3. displaying a lack of consistency
   • inconsistent statements cannot both be true at the same time
   • inconsistent with the roadmap

Từ đồng nghĩa

• discrepant