inequality

noun

Definition of inequalitynext
as in difference
a state or condition in which different things do not occur in equal amounts They discussed the problem of inequality between students. He accused the company of inequality in its hiring practices.

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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 inequality Misty is at a moment of peak personal and professional crisis, and her story allows Rock to examine serious questions about social inequality, getting older in show business and compromise. — New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026 Respondents tied socialism to both economic security and government overreach, and capitalism to both innovation and inequality. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026 The International Monetary Fund has made direct links between elites, such as Bigio, and income inequality. — Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2026 Crime in South Africa mirrors its larger economic inequality. — ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inequality
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inequality
  1. difference
  2. diversity
  3. distance
  4. imbalance
  5. distinctiveness
  6. distinctness
  7. divergence
  8. disparity
Noun
  • Functional connectivity in the fetal brain develops substantially later in gestation, with measurable differences in brain activity and facial responses to noxious versus innocuous stimulation appearing at approximately 33 weeks.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Three-dimensional light fields could provide a new way to probe these subtle differences because the fields themselves can have chiral, or handed, properties.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of difference
Noun
  • These genomes should reflect the full sequence of both chromosome copies and the diversity of the global population, rather than relying on one person or one ancestral group as a universal standard.
    — Euan Ashley, STAT, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The decrease in gut bacteria diversity was tied to expansions in populations of certain bad actors, such as the bacteria Enterococcus faecium.
    — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of diversity
Noun
  • If Lula wins, Brazil will keep its distance from Washington and continue to deepen its relationship with China.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The officer moved a safe distance away and ordered Cruz Linares to drop the knife.
    — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of distance
Noun
  • Micron’s bright outlook Micron delivered another blowout quarter Wednesday, but the bigger takeaway was management’s outlook on the supply-demand imbalance and the prospect for a powerful stock buyback.
    — Alexa LoMonaco,Jeff Nash, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The same imbalance shows up in who captures the economy’s gains.
    — Katica Roy, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of imbalance
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
  • 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
  • This divergence in labor market performance by gender can be partially explained by which industries are growing, according to Stahle.
    — Alex Harring,Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The divergence shows that buyers have become more selective while remaining willing to make significant bets when the strategic rationale is strong.
    — Rusty Wiley, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of divergence
Noun
  • Experts said a number of factors contribute to the disparities within majors.
    — Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Dougan also had documented and reported disparities in leadership pay, the suit says.
    — Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of disparity

Browse Nearby Words

ineptness
inequality
inequitable
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Cite this Entry

“Inequality.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inequality. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on inequality

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about inequality

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