scattershot

adjective

scat·​ter·​shot ˈska-tər-ˌshät How to pronounce scattershot (audio)
: broadly and often randomly inclusive : shotgun
scattershot advice
scattershot planning

Examples of scattershot in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The Free Press found a scattershot approach to local conflict of interest disclosure policies across Michigan. Dave Boucher, Detroit Free Press, 17 Mar. 2024 Yet even the pleasure of the concert scenes remains scattershot. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 8 Feb. 2024 Although South Africa has cleared invasive species for several decades, previous government efforts paid low wages and at times suffered from public budget cuts, so the clearing campaign was sometimes erratic or scattershot. Katharine Houreld, Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2024 The scattershot approach appeared motivated in part by pressure from clients to deliver more and higher quality information. Aaron Schaffer, Washington Post, 22 Feb. 2024 But the fines could be levied only through scattershot administrative hearings, and the O.C.M. had reportedly collected just two hundred and twenty thousand dollars in total before suspending proceedings entirely. Jia Tolentino, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2024 Who had Rams kicker Brett Maher, whose scattershot leg cost him his job with Dallas last year, lasting longer in the postseason than the Cowboys … if only for a few more hours? 18. Nate Davis, USA TODAY, 16 Jan. 2024 Not all of the infrastructure on the Reykjanes Peninsula is on the coast, however, and the scattershot appearance of multiple fissures would threaten any ad hoc water-pumping pipes and hoses. Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 13 Feb. 2024 But these scattershot hypotheses fail to persuade or to cohere, which only adds to the air of aimless repetition. Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scattershot.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1951, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of scattershot was in 1951

Dictionary Entries Near scattershot

Cite this Entry

“Scattershot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scattershot. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.

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