out of phase
Waves not aligned
Out of phase describes waves or cycles that don't align—their peaks and troughs occur at different times.
In physics and engineering, signals out of phase can cancel each other out.
The phrase extends to any misalignment in timing or coordination: The team was out of phase—marketing launched before the product was ready.
People who are out of phase with each other aren't in sync.
Unwelcome involvement in affairs
- destructiveCausing severe harm
- waveOscillating motion through medium
- cancelationVoiding of plans
- antiphase180 degrees out of step
superposition · constructive · amplitude · diffraction · frequency · oscillation · resonance · polarization
Improper positioning relative to reference
- skewTwist from straight
- offsetCompensate by opposing force
- dislocationForced out of position
- deviationDeparture from expected path
mismatch · distortion · imbalance · calibration · registration · adjustment · positioning · discrepancy
Not happening together
- lagPeriod of falling behind
- delayEnforced waiting period
- offsetCompensate by opposing force
- desynchronizationLoss of coordinated timing
staggered · uncoordinated · unaligned · nonconcurrent · mistimed · arrhythmic · off-beat · syncopated
Lack of harmony
- discordLack of agreement
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
- incompatibilityUnable to function together
tension · disagreement · contradiction · at odds · mismatch · disharmony · incongruity · variance
State of being severed
- estrangementEmotional separation between people
- alienationState of being isolated
- disengagementWithdrawal from involvement
- isolationComplete separation from others
detachment · disaffiliation · rift · disunity · divergence · belonging · rapport · attunement
interference
Unwelcome involvement in affairs
- destructiveCausing severe harm
- waveOscillating motion through medium
- cancelationVoiding of plans
antiphase · superposition · constructive · amplitude · diffraction · frequency · oscillation · resonance · polarization · waveform
misalignment
Improper positioning relative to reference
- skewTwist from straight
- offsetCompensate by opposing force
- dislocationForced out of position
deviation · mismatch · distortion · imbalance · calibration · registration · adjustment · positioning · discrepancy · drift
asynchronous
Not happening together
desynchronization · staggered · uncoordinated · unaligned · nonconcurrent · mistimed · arrhythmic · off-beat · syncopated · irregular
dissonance
Lack of harmony
- discordLack of agreement
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
incompatibility · tension · disagreement · contradiction · at odds · mismatch · disharmony · incongruity · variance · contention
disconnection
State of being severed
- estrangementEmotional separation between people
- alienationState of being isolated
- disengagementWithdrawal from involvement
isolation · detachment · disaffiliation · rift · disunity · divergence · belonging · rapport · attunement · harmony
out of phasein phase
Temporally aligned together
in sync · synchronized · in step · aligned · coherent
out of phasein sync
Moving in unison
in harmony · coordinated · in step · in tune · on the same page
out, phase, outs, phases, phased, phasing, phaser, multiphase