incommensurate

[ in-kuh-men-ser-it, -sher- ]

adjective

1. not commensurate; disproportionate; inadequate:

   Our income is incommensurate to our wants.

2. incommensurable.

incommensurate

/ ˌɪnkəˈmɛnʃərɪt /

adjective

1. whenpostpositive, often foll by with not commensurate; disproportionate
2. incommensurable

Derived Forms

• ˌincomˈmensurately, adverb
• ˌincomˈmensurateness, noun

Other Words From

• incom·mensu·rate·ly adverb
• incom·mensu·rate·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of incommensurate¹

First recorded in 1640–50; in- ³ + commensurate

Example Sentences

Although some policymakers have taken steps to protect people from EDCs — the European Commission, for example, in 2022 proposed stricter labeling regulations that would require companies to alert consumers of their hazards — many in the field believe the overarching response has been incommensurate with the scale of the crisis.

From Salon

The two surfaces should be incommensurate, which means the potential 'hills' in the molecular structure of one surface should not fit to the potential 'wells' of the other surface.

From Science Daily

Despite the complexity of these latter ideas, her use of diagrams and figures helps to reinforce their approachability—although in some cases their incommensurate simplicity feels unsatisfying.

From Scientific American

“The Troubles” seems incommensurate — euphemistic even — as a descriptor of the social fission that cleaved apart Northern Ireland in the late 20th century.

From Los Angeles Times

But Hayden “didn’t much appreciate the idea that his wife and a bunch of sweaty women in legwarmers held so much power over his political career, and he needled her about this activity he perceived as incommensurate with their serious activism.”

From Washington Post