commensurate
Corresponding in size, degree, or extent; proportionate
Examples
In a meeting
“Your salary should be commensurate with your experience and responsibilities.”
Over coffee
“The effort you put in should be commensurate with the results you want.”
Why this word
proportional
commensurate implies appropriate correspondence in degree, while proportional just means maintaining a ratio
equal
equal suggests sameness, commensurate means appropriately matched in scale or extent
appropriate
appropriate is vague about the relationship, commensurate specifically means in proper proportion
Usage tip
Use when discussing proportional relationships, especially in compensation, effort, or scale. Often followed by 'with'.
Etymology
Late Latin 'commensuratus' (com- 'together' + mensurare 'to measure')
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