unequal
unequal Lexical Profile
unequal Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Not equal in quantity, size, degree, value, or status.
"The inheritance was divided into unequal shares among the three siblings."
Not fair, just, or evenly matched, because one person or group has a distinct advantage over another.
"The reform movement sought to address unequal access to quality healthcare and education."
Lacking the necessary ability, strength, or resources to deal successfully with a task or situation (used with 'to').
"The aging bridge proved unequal to the weight of modern freight trucks."
• noun
A person or thing that is not equal to another in status, ability, value, or rank.
"The treaty was criticized by historians as an agreement forced upon unequals."
Word Nuance & Usage
When meaning 'not having the required ability or resources to meet a challenge,' 'unequal' is used only predicatively and is always followed by the preposition 'to' (e.g., 'he proved unequal to the task').
• Rhymes for unequal
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Recorded in Middle English from the 15th century, formed by adding the native prefix 'un-' to the adjective 'equal', which derives from Latin 'aequalis' ('uniform, level, or identical').