unequalise
Definition
Verb (transitive): - To make or become unequal: The act of causing something to lose equality or balance; to render uneven or not equal. - To remove equalization: In contexts such as sports, to undo or fail to achieve a tie or equal score.
Usage Examples
- (This will create inequality where there was balance.)
- (They could not break the tie or make the score unequal in their favour.)
Advanced Usage
"to unequalise a system": To intentionally disrupt a previously balanced or equal system, often in technical or social contexts.
- The algorithm was designed to unequalise the weight distribution for testing purposes. (The program deliberately made the weights uneven.)
"to unequalise a competition": To make a competition less fair by altering conditions.
- The referee’s decision seemed to unequalise the playing field. (The ruling gave one side an advantage.)
Variants and Related Words
Unequalize (verb): An alternative spelling of "unequalise," used primarily in American English.
- They sought to unequalize the scores in the final minutes. (They attempted to create an uneven score.)
Unequal (adjective): Not equal in quantity, size, value, or status.
- The unequal distribution of wealth caused social tension. (The distribution was not even or fair.)
Unequalization (noun): The process or result of making something unequal.
- The unequalization of educational resources led to disparities. (The act of making resources uneven.)
Synonyms
- Disbalance: To disturb the balance or equilibrium of something.
- Unbalance: To make something uneven or unequal, especially psychologically or physically.
- Disequalize: To remove equality from a situation (less common).
Antonyms
- Equalise: To make equal or even.
- Balance: To bring into a state of equilibrium.
Related Idioms
- To tip the scales: To cause a situation to become unbalanced or unequal.
- The new player tipped the scales in our favour. (The new player made the competition unequal by giving us an advantage.)
Grammatical Notes
- Morphology: Formed by the prefix un- (meaning "not" or "reverse of") + equalise (to make equal). It is a transitive verb requiring a direct object. The past tense is unequalised (or unequalized in American English).