out-of-phase
Waves not aligned
Out-of-phase describes waves or signals that are not synchronized—their peaks and troughs don't align.
In physics and engineering, two waves exactly out of phase cancel each other out.
The term extends to anything misaligned or not working in harmony: The departments were out-of-phase on the project timeline.
Compare *in phase*.
Art of choosing moments
- misalignedNot properly positioned
- offsetCompensate by opposing force
- desynchronizedNo longer in unison
- mismatchIncompatible combination
lag · coordination · rhythm · cadence · staggered · unsynchronized · clock · drift
Graphed oscillation pattern
- frequencyRate of recurrence
- alternating currentPeriodically reversing electrical flow
- signalMessage-conveying cue
- oscillationRepeated back-and-forth movement
sine wave · cycle · amplitude · voltage · inverter · transformer · harmonics · reactive
Oscillating motion through medium
- interferenceUnwelcome involvement in affairs
- destructiveCausing severe harm
- superpositionCoexisting in multiple states
- crestHighest point or tuft
trough · wavelength · coherence · diffraction · optical · light · sound · amplitude
To break a connection
- mismatchIncompatible combination
- incompatibleUnable to exist together
- misalignedNot properly positioned
- dissonantLacking harmonic agreement
incongruent · mismatched · ill-timed · discordant · estranged · divergent · clashing · jarring
timing
Art of choosing moments
- misalignedNot properly positioned
- offsetCompensate by opposing force
- desynchronizedNo longer in unison
mismatch · lag · coordination · rhythm · cadence · staggered · unsynchronized · clock · drift · skew
waveform
Graphed oscillation pattern
- frequencyRate of recurrence
- alternating currentPeriodically reversing electrical flow
- signalMessage-conveying cue
oscillation · sine wave · cycle · amplitude · voltage · inverter · transformer · harmonics · reactive · capacitor
wave
Oscillating motion through medium
- interferenceUnwelcome involvement in affairs
- destructiveCausing severe harm
- superpositionCoexisting in multiple states
crest · trough · wavelength · coherence · diffraction · optical · light · sound · amplitude · node
disconnect
To break a connection
- mismatchIncompatible combination
- incompatibleUnable to exist together
- misalignedNot properly positioned
dissonant · incongruent · mismatched · ill-timed · discordant · estranged · divergent · clashing · jarring · at odds
out-of-phasein phase
Temporally aligned together
synchronized · in sync · in step · aligned · coordinated
out, phase, phased, phasing, phases, multiphase, interphase, prophase