incoherently

Incoherently is an adverb describing the manner in which something is done when it lacks coherence—when parts do not form a clear, logical, or consistent whole. It often implies that connections between ideas, statements, or actions are weak, fragmented, or hard to follow.

In language and communication, incoherently describes speech or writing that jumps between topics, contains abrupt or illogical transitions, or failing to present a unified argument. It can also refer to mental states in which thoughts or expressions are disorganized, such as during delirium, intoxication, or severe confusion. In literary or journalistic contexts, it may be used to characterize passages that feel disjointed or hard to parse.

In scientific and technical contexts, incoherently can describe processes or emissions that lack a fixed phase relationship or a unified, predictable pattern. For example, incoherent light or waves do not maintain a stable phase across their source. While the term is used in specialized fields, the core idea remains the absence of a coherent, orderly connection.

Etymology: the adverb is formed from the adjective incoherent, which itself is built from the prefix in- (not) and coherent (from Latin cohaerere, to stick together). The suffix -ly turns the word into an adverb.

See also: coherence, incoherence, coherent, incoherence (in physics and language).