as in inequality
a state or condition in which different things do not occur in equal or proper amounts
There is an imbalance between his work life and family life.
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Recent Examples of imbalance
The trade imbalance for October hit its lowest level since the end of the financial crisis in 2009, at a time when imports had declined sharply due to the massive recession the crisis generated.
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Jeff Cox, CNBC, 8 Jan. 2026
The consequences of this imbalance are visible across the past quarter-century.
—Monica Duffy Toft, The Conversation, 5 Jan. 2026
The city’s structural budget imbalance goes back a lot longer, under both Republican and Democratic mayors.
—Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
This imbalance meant that there was approximately one OIIG investigator for every 1,000 county employees.
—Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
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Recent Examples of Synonyms for imbalance
Noun
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This is just one of numerous examples of inequalities that are entrenched in and deepened by medical and educational systems.—
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The daughter of a South African mother who grew up in a white town in the Northeast, Clemmons uses her frequent travels to Johannesburg to contextualize the promises of freedom, the realities of entrenched inequalities, and consequences of violence.—
Noun
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Wrought Studio Lawandra Modern Upholstered Swivel Storage Chair To the naked eye, this may seem like a typical upholstered chair, but there’s one sneaky detail that makes a world of difference.—
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That’s for the college game, where the head coach is the star and the difference between the haves and have-nots is massive.—
Noun
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Kennedy’s promise to minimize federal involvement in enforcing constitutional rights is in stark contrast to Trump’s vow to employ troops in response to purported high crime in multiple major cities, a claim those cities’ leaders have disputed.—
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Newer machines, by contrast, often use payout systems that tie claw strength to how much money has been fed into the game, meaning the claw only reaches full strength after the operator’s preset threshold is met.—
Noun
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As to the non-final action, one problem for the A’s is that the marks fail to show enough distinctiveness.—
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Judean culture had been transformed by Greek influence for centuries, but Antiochus attempted to quash Judean religious distinctiveness altogether.—
Noun
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How can the sense of an absolute union of all matter be reconciled with the endless multiplicity and distinctness of it?—
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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.—
Cite this Entry
“Imbalance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imbalance. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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