disproportionate

adjective

Definition of disproportionatenext
as in unequal
having or showing a difference that is not fair, reasonable, or expected; too large or too small in relation to something He believes that middle-class people bear a disproportionate share of the tax burden. A disproportionate number of the students are poor.

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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 disproportionate Pancreatic cancer kills a disproportionate share of the people who get it. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026 Others asserted that the legal system often had disproportionate effects on the most vulnerable communities — including minorities, low-income people, and disabled people. — Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 26 Aug. 2026 Children under five — some too young to have received their second dose, others unvaccinated by parental choice — account for a fifth of this year’s infections and a disproportionate share of hospitalizations. — A.j. Russo, Baltimore Sun, 25 Aug. 2026 Laurie Groh, a licensed psychotherapist and owner of Shoreside Therapies in Milwaukee, says that helps explain why the change could provoke an emotional reaction disproportionate to its effect on everyday life. — Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disproportionate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disproportionate
  1. unequal
  2. diverse
  3. distinctive
  4. distinct
  5. mixed
  6. several
Adjective
  • But the summer months have also thrown into sharp relief the unequal way in which those decreases in violence have shown up across the city.
    — Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • These girls make mistakes and learn lessons while living in unfair, unequal and unjust societies in need of change.
    — Tara Strauch, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of unequal
Adjective
  • This reframes California's economic health, highlighting a vibrant, diverse entrepreneurial spirit that continues to shine.
    — Lisa Curtis, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • But a new study has found reliable evidence that this formative process involved more diverse species also making the transition.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of diverse
Adjective
  • These challenging conditions are precisely what make a summer off-road safari such a distinctive way to experience Iceland’s rugged interior.
    — Gwen Nicol, Travel + Leisure, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Meghna Gulzar has a very distinctive voice and an ability to approach difficult subjects with both restraint and intensity.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of distinctive
Adjective
  • Transplants of muscle stem cells are a promising avenue for research, having distinct advantages over other tissues in their ability to encourage the growth of new blood vessels and limitations on rapid growth.
    — Mike McRae September 02, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Meanwhile, active adult rental has begun to emerge as a distinct property type.
    — Nia Bowers, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of distinct
Adjective
  • Yum reported mixed second-quarter results and said the cyclospora outbreak linked to Taco Bell hit the chain's sales in July, but that trends began to improve.
    — Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Open Concepts With more mixed reactions than the other trends, open concepts fill out the top five most controversial design trends.
    — Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of mixed
Adjective
  • After wrapping up its longest monthly losing streak on Wall Street in more than a decade, Google has started September by giving investors several reasons for optimism.
    — MacKenzie Sigalos,Drew Troast, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Just Monday, Mozeliak announced a front-office realignment, beefing up the group’s assistant general manager total to four while firing several scouts and crosscheckers.
    — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of several

Browse Nearby Words

disproportion
disproportionate
disprovable
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Cite this Entry

“Disproportionate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disproportionate. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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