WordGarden.iocohesiveness
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /kəʊhˈiːsɪvnəs/
US
- /koʊˈhisɪvnəs/
Meanings
Noun
the quality of parts fitting together as a unified whole
unity and cooperation within a group, team, or community
the connected flow of ideas in writing, speech, or argument
More meaningsFewer meanings
the tendency of a material or substance to hold together
Beyond the definition
Think of a well-made mosaic – all the tiny pieces are different, but they fit together beautifully to create a whole picture. That's cohesiveness! It describes how well things stick together, whether it's a team working on a project, ideas in an argument, or even the ingredients in a delicious stew. A cohesive group feels unified and works towards a common goal. If a story lacks cohesiveness, it might feel jumpy and confusing – like pieces are missing!
Imagine a flock of birds flying in perfect formation; that's visual cohesiveness. Or consider a debate where each point builds logically on the last – that's intellectual cohesiveness. A lack of cohesiveness can lead to fragmentation or falling apart.
Cohesiveness describes the quality of forming a unified whole, sticking together, and being consistent. It's more than just being together; it's about how well things fit together. The word comes from "cohere," meaning to stick fast.
You might talk about the cohesiveness of a team – how well its members work together towards a shared objective. A cohesive team has strong relationships, clear communication, and a sense of mutual purpose. "The success of the project was due to the remarkable cohesiveness of the development team."
But cohesiveness isn't limited to people! It can describe abstract things too. An essay with strong cohesiveness flows smoothly from one idea to the next, making it easy for the reader to follow. A political party needs ideological cohesiveness – a shared set of beliefs – to function effectively. "The argument lacked cohesiveness; the points seemed disconnected and random."
In materials science, cohesiveness refers to the molecular forces that hold a substance together. Think about how easily water beads up versus how quickly sand falls apart – that's a difference in cohesiveness!
So whether you're describing a strong team spirit, a well-structured argument, or the very fabric of matter, cohesiveness is all about unity, connection, and holding things firmly together.
Examples
- 1
Sports team
The new coach quickly improved the cohesiveness of the team.
- 2
Presentation
Her presentation had good ideas, but it lacked cohesiveness.
- 3
Essay editing
The editor helped me improve the cohesiveness of my essay by cutting repeated points.
- 4
Interior design
Soft lighting and matching colors gave the room a sense of cohesiveness.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Workplace merger
After the merger, managers worked hard to build cohesiveness across the two departments.
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- cohesivenessnoun