coherence
Making sense together
Coherence is the quality of fitting together logically and consistently.
An argument has coherence when its parts connect and support each other.
A story lacks coherence when events seem random or contradictory.
The word applies to writing, thought, speech, or any system where unity matters: The essay lacked coherence—ideas jumped around without transitions.
In physics, coherent light waves maintain a fixed phase relationship, as in lasers.
Unbroken forward movement
- unityWholeness through cohesion
- continuityUninterrupted progression or coherence
- structureArrangement of interconnected parts
- organizationStructured group with purpose
transition · linking · connectives · signposting · referencing · paragraphing · sequencing · narrative arc
Drawing logical conclusions
- argumentationSystematic reasoning process
- logicScience of valid reasoning
- validityQuality of being sound
- consistencyReliable adherence to standards
inference · premise · conclusion · syllogism · deduction · induction · proposition · proof
Aligning timing across systems
- coordinationOrganized cooperative movement
- congruenceState of agreement
- attunementHarmonious receptive connection
- calibrationAdjusting for measurement accuracy
harmony · accord · concord · synergy · correspondence · agreement · compatibility · resonance
Complete, undivided state
- integrationCombining into a whole
- onenessState of being unified
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
- synthesisCombining parts into whole
unification · solidarity · convergence · indivisibility · totality · completeness · singularity · fusion
Unwelcome involvement in affairs
- phaseDistinct period in sequence
- waveOscillating motion through medium
- laserConcentrated light device
- lightVisible electromagnetic radiation
superposition · amplitude · frequency · holography · monochromatic · wavefront
State of being identical
- stabilityResistance to displacement
- reliabilityConsistent, predictable performance
- regularityConsistent, predictable occurrence
- predictabilityCapacity to be anticipated
constancy · steadiness · homogeneity · continuity · conformity · equilibrium · invariability · repeatability
flow
Unbroken forward movement
- unityWholeness through cohesion
- continuityUninterrupted progression or coherence
- structureArrangement of interconnected parts
organization · transition · linking · connectives · signposting · referencing · paragraphing · sequencing · narrative arc · readability
reasoning
Drawing logical conclusions
- argumentationSystematic reasoning process
- logicScience of valid reasoning
- validityQuality of being sound
consistency · inference · premise · conclusion · syllogism · deduction · induction · proposition · proof · fallacy
synchronization
Aligning timing across systems
- coordinationOrganized cooperative movement
- congruenceState of agreement
- attunementHarmonious receptive connection
calibration · harmony · accord · concord · synergy · correspondence · agreement · compatibility · resonance · consonance
wholeness
Complete, undivided state
- integrationCombining into a whole
- onenessState of being unified
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
synthesis · unification · solidarity · convergence · indivisibility · totality · completeness · singularity · fusion · consolidation
interference
Unwelcome involvement in affairs
light · superposition · amplitude · frequency · holography · monochromatic · wavefront
uniformity
State of being identical
- stabilityResistance to displacement
- reliabilityConsistent, predictable performance
- regularityConsistent, predictable occurrence
predictability · constancy · steadiness · homogeneity · continuity · conformity · equilibrium · invariability · repeatability · standardization
- philosophy termstruth, reason, knowledge, wisdom, logic
- connectionslink, links, connect, connection, tie
- designdesign principles, functionality, emphasis, unity, graphic design
- probabilityprobability, chance, random, randomness, odds
- strategystrategy, grand strategy, tactics, tactic, tactical
- clarityclearness, clear, obvious, simplification, concise
coherenceincoherence
Failure to make sense
inconsistency · illogicality · contradiction · self-contradiction · incoherency
coherenceunintelligibility
Cannot be understood
incoherence · confusion · incomprehensibility · rambling · gibberish
coherencefragmentation
Breaking into smaller pieces
incoherence · disorganization · disjointedness · chaos · disorder
- barely coherent
- coherent lightIn-phase electromagnetic radiation
coherent, incoherent, incoherence, coherently, incoherently, coherency, decoherence