disproportion

noun

Definition of disproportionnext
as in difference
formal a state of being different in a way that is not fair, reasonable, or expected The author does not explain the disproportion between the value of the stones.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of disproportion Between the assassination in Sarajevo, the mass slaughter in the trenches, and the stagnant front lines lie disproportions so immense that cause and effect lose all relation. — George Packer, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2025 The implications of this enormous disproportion are obvious, given that few governments support more than one or a handful of official languages. — Ross Perlin, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024 Those numbers and disproportion are likely to explode under the new law, in a climate where many people of color oppose Israel’s actions and many members of the Jewish faith see dangerous antisemites behind ugly encounters around Israel. — Ron Kuby, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2024 In a world of absolute equality, there would be no place left for derangements of disproportion. — Becca Rothfeld, Harper's Magazine, 2 Mar. 2024 See All Example Sentences for disproportion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disproportion
  1. difference
  2. distinctness
  3. distinctiveness
  4. imbalance
  5. distinction
  6. disparity
  7. inequality
Noun
  • The only difference between us sitting here and someone on death row is our circumstances.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Having produced one such number per participant, the standard approach then pools all of them into a group average, on the assumption that individual differences are noise that will be canceled out.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of difference
Noun
  • How can the sense of an absolute union of all matter be reconciled with the endless multiplicity and distinctness of it?
    — Christian Wiman, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
  • However, a few hours with Air Riders reveals the nuance and depth of its gameplay, the distinctness of this flavor of racing game and its sensory, chaotic, and strategic appeal.
    — Ryan Gaur, Rolling Stone, 19 Nov. 2025
Definition of distinctness
Noun
  • Its strength lies in its capacity to evolve and find new ways to engage with the world around it, generation after generation, while retaining its distinctiveness.
    — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Generally speaking, sports fans don’t bring up United States history when talking about their team’s big game, but that’s the distinctiveness of this rivalry.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of distinctiveness
Noun
  • The top trade envoys for China and the European Union agreed Friday on a broad initial deal following two days of talks aimed at calming escalating tensions over trade imbalances, the EU trade commissioner said.
    — Sam McNeil, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The top trade envoys for China and the European Union were wrapping up two days of talks Friday aimed at calming escalating tensions over growing imbalances between the two giant economies.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of imbalance
Noun
  • Richard seems to be drawing a distinction between representing a culture and living it.
    — Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026
  • On an objective level, this is so close to n log n that the distinction almost doesn’t matter.
    — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of distinction
Noun
  • But the disparity also illustrates why neither ESPN nor the NFL should be particularly concerned about Monday's unusually poor number.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2026
  • In the central bank's Survey of Consumer Finances, researchers found that while wealth disparities narrowed somewhat, the ability to meet debt payments deteriorated significantly.
    — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of disparity
Noun
  • Hundreds of schools have shut their doors in recent days, with students airing grievances over run-down buildings, overcrowded classrooms, understaffing and inequalities in the education system.
    — Ellen Francis, Washington Post, 6 Oct. 2026
  • In 2016, Senator Bernie Sanders shocked the Democratic establishment by running a close race against Hillary Clinton for the Party’s Presidential nomination, thanks to his insistent focus on income and wealth inequality.
    — Nicholas Lemann, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of inequality

Browse Nearby Words

disproofs
disproportion
disproportionate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Disproportion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disproportion. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of nexus

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Why do we call it a 'flea market'?
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All