disproportionate

adjective

dis·​pro·​por·​tion·​ate ˌdis-prə-ˈpȯr-sh(ə-)nət How to pronounce disproportionate (audio)
Synonyms of disproportionate
: being out of proportion
a disproportionate share
disproportionately adverb

Examples of disproportionate in a Sentence

He believes that middle-class people bear a disproportionate share of the tax burden. A disproportionate number of the students are poor.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
However, concerns remain about compliance conflicts, potential losses for retailers, and disproportionate impacts on vulnerable cash-paying consumers. — Brian Delp, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 If schools show two consecutive years of disproportionate enforcement, CSDE will step in and recommend corrective actions. — Theo Peck-Suzuki, Hartford Courant, 5 Aug. 2026 Mothers who do a disproportionate share of the mental load have higher rates of depression, stress, and burnout. — Marianne Cooper, Time, 5 Aug. 2026 As the left and right argue, the disproportionate influence of a select few suppresses the will of the majority. — Susan Ostermann, Mercury News, 1 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disproportionate

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin disprōportiōnātus, past participle of disprōportiōnāre "to make out of proportion," from Latin dis- dis- + Medieval Latin prōportiōnāre "to compose according to proportions" — more at proportion entry 2

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of disproportionate was in 1555

Rhymes for disproportionate

See All Rhymes for disproportionate

Browse Nearby Words

disproportional
disproportionate
disproportionated rosin
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Disproportionate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disproportionate. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

disproportionate

adjective
dis·​pro·​por·​tion·​ate ˌdis-prə-ˈpōr-sh(ə-)nət How to pronounce disproportionate (audio)
-ˈpȯr-
: being out of proportion
disproportionately adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on disproportionate

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for disproportionate

Nglish: Translation of disproportionate for Spanish Speakers

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