coherence

noun

kō-ˈhir-ən(t)s How to pronounce coherence (audio)
Definition of coherencenext
as in symmetry
a balanced, pleasing, or suitable arrangement of parts the house has been expanded and remodeled so many times that now it's a jumbled mess that lacks coherence

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of coherence The tonal coherence of Widow’s Bay depends to a large extent on Rhys, on his ability to ride the current between goofy startlement and raw terror. — James Parker, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026 Jez Bridges was offered an optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan during his yearly appointment at an optician in Staffordshire, England, in July 2025. — Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 19 July 2026 Each will require a Democratic Party more or less at peace with itself, and one that recognizes its need for both some coherence and some flexibility. — Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 16 July 2026 Yet while some of the poem’s colorful explorations are lost, Odysseus’s consistent anguish lends the movie a satisfying thematic coherence. — Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 16 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for coherence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coherence
  1. symmetry
  2. orchestration
  3. proportion
  4. correlation
  5. harmony
  6. unity
Noun
  • As in her spouse Jia’s features, Zhao Tao is the still point in a turning, globalized world, with all its disconnections and surprising symmetries.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Interestingly, though, pentagonal arrangements of atoms can fill space in almost-but-never-quite-repeating patterns with fivefold symmetry, forming materials called quasicrystals.
    — Natalie Wolchover, Quanta Magazine, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of symmetry
Noun
  • Infrastructure companies are developing orchestration and governance layers.
    — Nicole Casperson, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Larger reasoning models can handle planning and orchestration, while smaller models take care of execution.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of orchestration
Noun
  • Rooms No two suites are alike, their proportions and personalities dictated by the quirks of the original buildings, but all claim equally lovely views.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Occasionally, a near-identical decision draws public anger, employee resentment, or regulatory attention far out of proportion to the deal.
    — ESMT Berlin, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of proportion
Noun
  • With telemetry data coming from different sources and in different formats, cross-system correlation becomes impossible.
    — Klaudia Zaika, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Meanwhile, Follows’ research also shows that an experienced producer can make all the difference for a first-time director, even though that correlation disappears after the first film.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of correlation
Noun
  • By contrast, collectivist societies focus more on social harmony and prioritise the group over individual goals, with decisions made based on what is best for the wider community.
    — Mark Carey, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
  • While there was a period of harmony between the two coasts, that imploded after Shakur was ambushed at a Times Square recording studio in November 1994.
    — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of harmony
Noun
  • Friday night, Michigan Democrats held a unity rally headlined by former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
    — NBC news, NBC news, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Earlier on Friday, Rogers appealed to Democratic voters who went against Sayed in the primary, pitching himself as the unity candidate.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of unity

Browse Nearby Words

cohered
coherence
coherent
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Cite this Entry

“Coherence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coherence. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on coherence

Nglish: Translation of coherence for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about coherence

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