disproportionately

[ dis-pruh-pawr-shuh-nit-lee ]

adverb

1. in a way that is out of proper relation with something else in size, number, importance, etc.:

   We often allow the minor inconveniences of life—such as traffic jams or technology breakdowns—to disproportionately impact our happiness.

Word History and Origins

Origin of disproportionately¹

disproportionate ( def ) + -ly

Example Sentences

However, if one views memes as a piece of media with disproportionately high influence on young minds, then the legality of Stake’s watermark campaign is much more murky.

From Slate

Critics warn that removing taxes on tips could inadvertently reduce transparency and make it harder to track fair wage practices, potentially leading to an increase in wage theft — a problem that already disproportionately affects tipped workers.

From Salon

The New Deal-era Glass-Steagall Act of 1933, repealed in 1999 under President Bill Clinton, had stopped banks and other corporate entities from speculating in the types of financing schemes that in 2008 wrecked the material security of millions of Americans, disproportionately people of color.

From Salon

A study by the organization found that people of African descent were disproportionately represented among people deported in recent years, Alemseged said, often because a low-level offense led to their detainment.

From Los Angeles Times

Air travel emissions come disproportionately from the well-off.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• extremely
• immensely
• improperly
• inordinately
• overly
• too
• unfairly
• unjustifiably
• unjustly
• unnecessarily
• unreasonably