incommensurable
Lacking common measure
Incommensurable describes things that cannot be measured by the same standard or compared meaningfully.
In mathematics, two quantities are incommensurable if they have no common unit of measure—the diagonal of a square is incommensurable with its side.
More broadly, values or worldviews may be incommensurable: How do you weigh economic growth against environmental preservation? The two seem incommensurable.
The word suggests fundamental incompatibility, not just difficulty in comparison.
Governing framework of thought
- relativismContext-dependent truth doctrine
- epistemologyTheory of knowledge
- ontologyStudy of existence's nature
- worldviewComprehensive belief framework
framework · conceptual · axiomatic · presupposition · foundational · irreducible · untranslatable · paradigm shift
Beyond numerical determination
- unquantifiableCannot be numerically expressed
- imponderableBeyond estimation or measure
- unfathomableBeyond comprehension or measurement
- inestimableToo great to calculate
indeterminable · boundless · measureless · infinite · vast · incomparable · beyond measure · illimitable
Lacking sound judgment
- ratioComparative numerical relation
- proportionComparative relation of parts
- magnitudeSize or scale
- PythagoreanOf ancient Greek mathematics
diagonal · sqrt · nonrational · geometric · unmeasurable · disproportionate · irreducible · noncomparable
Impossible to resolve together
- incompatibleUnable to exist together
- incongruentNot in harmony
- conflictingIncompatible with each other
- contradictoryLogically opposed to itself
antithetical · discordant · clashing · opposed · inconsistent · divergent · mismatched · inharmonious
paradigm
Governing framework of thought
- relativismContext-dependent truth doctrine
- epistemologyTheory of knowledge
- ontologyStudy of existence's nature
worldview · framework · conceptual · axiomatic · presupposition · foundational · irreducible · untranslatable · paradigm shift · plurality
incalculable
Beyond numerical determination
- unquantifiableCannot be numerically expressed
- imponderableBeyond estimation or measure
- unfathomableBeyond comprehension or measurement
inestimable · indeterminable · boundless · measureless · infinite · vast · incomparable · beyond measure · illimitable · untold
irrational
Lacking sound judgment
- ratioComparative numerical relation
- proportionComparative relation of parts
- magnitudeSize or scale
Pythagorean · diagonal · sqrt · nonrational · geometric · unmeasurable · disproportionate · irreducible · noncomparable · arithmetic
irreconcilable
Impossible to resolve together
- incompatibleUnable to exist together
- incongruentNot in harmony
- conflictingIncompatible with each other
contradictory · antithetical · discordant · clashing · opposed · inconsistent · divergent · mismatched · inharmonious · contrary
incommensurablecommensurable
Sharing a common measure
comparable · measurable · commensurate · quantifiable · calculable
incommensurablecommensurate
Equal in measure
proportionate · equivalent · proportional · corresponding · correlative
incommensurablecompatible
Able to work together
reconcilable · translatable · congruent · harmonious · commensurable