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 Though women hold over 60% of parliamentary seats, following quotas and reforms, structural inequalities persist in the country. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 30 July 2026 As inequality deepens across the state, drawing mounting backlash, California voters will decide on a ballot measure in November that would levy a one-time 5% tax on billionaires to help pay for healthcare. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 30 July 2026 Perhaps most important, pro-worker AI could create good service jobs for workers who aren’t college educated, and thus begin to uproot the inequality that has been entrenched in the postindustrial economy. — Daron Acemoglu, The Atlantic, 28 July 2026 Any effort to rectify racial inequalities worldwide must consider the immense wealth accumulated through the global exploitation of Black people—unpaid labor, physical abuse, torture, and genocide. — Literary Hub, 27 July 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
  • With few exceptions, Southerners are pretty strict about the differences between cakes, pies, cobblers, and candies.
    — Josh Miller, Southern Living, 1 Aug. 2026
  • At that scale, the difference between $1 and 20 cents per million input tokens becomes a serious procurement issue.
    — Gerui Wang, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of difference
Noun
  • It is particularly aimed at improving diversity in the sector through targeting young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds, female and non-binary individuals and those from ethnic minorities.
    — Roger Trapp, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • But African populations carry more diverse segments and some that are distinct, a consequence of some of the diversity that was lost when only a fraction of the total population expanded into Eurasia.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 31 July 2026
Definition of diversity
Noun
  • With five stations within walking distance of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, State Farm Arena and the surrounding area, visiting World Cup fans told Turnbull the service was cheap, convenient and better than other cities.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Those who are crowd-averse should take it all in from a distance at Battery Park or the Brooklyn Promenade, or hop on the free ferry to Staten Island to catch views of the Statue and the New York Harbor.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of distance
Noun
  • Excess capacity is a dynamic, not static, market phenomenon, the paper said, cycling between balance and imbalance over time.
    — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 31 July 2026
  • Over time, the charge imbalance becomes strong enough to produce lightning.
    — Yunyao Li, The Conversation, 30 July 2026
Definition of imbalance
Noun
  • In a portfolio of consumer brands, each brand's value lies substantially in its distinctiveness.
    — Gustaf Lundberg Toresson, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
  • Ultimately, though, distinctiveness is an asset for an action star.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 15 July 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
  • Watch vessel-level AIS tracking data for the Gibraltar corridor itself, the kind of transit-time and vessel-count monitoring the IMF's PortWatch initiative already runs, for any early divergence from the roughly 300-vessels-per-day baseline.
    — Frank Ahrens, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • But the dramatic divergence of the new measurement from the detector’s own past results, along with the collaboration’s claim of high precision, made the situation hard to ignore.
    — Matt von Hippel, Quanta Magazine, 29 July 2026
Definition of divergence
Noun
  • The disparity in vehicle size is a major concern on America’s roads, particularly as passenger cars trend bigger and heavier, with electrified models pushing curb weights up even further.
    — Adam Ismail, The Drive, 30 July 2026
  • The tribe will have to rely on other revenue sources that are now allowed through recognition, such as a casino, to reverse the health disparities their people have faced for decades, Lumbee researchers said.
    — Andrew Jones, NPR, 30 July 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 5 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on inequality

Nglish: Translation of inequality for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about inequality

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