Incommensurate: meaning, definitions and examples

Appropriate for expressing a lack of a common standard of measurement or comparison, often highlighting an imbalance.

• His salary is incommensurate with the amount of work he does.
• The resources allocated to the two departments were incommensurate, causing frustration among the staff.

Best for indicating an imbalance in size, number, or degree, suggesting that something is out of proportion and often implying unfairness or injustice.

• The punishment he received was disproportionate to the offense.
• There is a disproportionate amount of wealth concentrated in the hands of a few.

Appropriate for general situations where there is a lack of equality, often in size, quantity, or status, and sometimes with a social justice connotation.

• The two competitors had unequal chances of winning due to their different levels of experience.
• There has been significant progress in addressing the unequal treatment of women in the workplace.

Used to describe things that are fundamentally different in kind, often highlighting a lack of harmony or connection.

• Their backgrounds were so disparate that they struggled to find common ground.
• The company's two disparate business units often had conflicting goals.

Use 'incommensurate' when discussing mismatched or incompatible elements, especially in a more formal or academic context.

• The punishment was incommensurate with the minor offense.
• Their efforts were incommensurate to the massive scale of the problem.

Choose 'excessive' to describe something that is beyond what is necessary or reasonable, often implying an undesirable or negative connotation.

• The noise levels were excessive late at night.
• She was fined an excessive amount for a minor parking violation.

Apply 'disproportionate' when describing something that is out of proportion or not balanced, particularly in quantity or size.

• The response was disproportionate to the initial provocation.
• There is a disproportionate number of resources allocated to this project.

Use 'undue' to suggest something that is unwarranted, unjustified, or inappropriate, often with a negative implication.

• They put undue pressure on the employees to meet unrealistic deadlines.
• He was accused of having undue influence over the committee.