1
as in random
lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern
a desultory search for something of interest on TV
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rambling
passing from one topic to another
a desultory discussion about the news of the day
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of desultory
Daniel Gordon’s film focused on the 100-meter final at the Seoul Olympics, a race that was dominated by Ben Johnson, who then abdicated the crown after a positive steroid test, leaving Carl Lewis as the desultory victor.
—
Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Mar. 2025
But the Academy really didn’t go for Revolutionary Road, which received a Supporting Actor nod for Michael Shannon (back row, 11th from right) and desultory nominations for Art Direction and Costume Design but nothing for Winslet or her co-star Leonardo DiCaprio.
—Zach Schonfeld, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2025
But by the early 1970s, he was ravaged by drug addiction, kicking off a cycle of spirals and comebacks and sporadic, desultory live appearances.
—Rob Tannenbaum, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2025
Its most striking element is a tall glassy lobby that will provide a grand entrance from the new plaza, but the rest of the building is driven by functional massing that’s been sheathed with a desultory screen of metal and glass.
—Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for desultory
Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Mar. 2025
But the Academy really didn’t go for Revolutionary Road, which received a Supporting Actor nod for Michael Shannon (back row, 11th from right) and desultory nominations for Art Direction and Costume Design but nothing for Winslet or her co-star Leonardo DiCaprio.
—Zach Schonfeld, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2025
But by the early 1970s, he was ravaged by drug addiction, kicking off a cycle of spirals and comebacks and sporadic, desultory live appearances.
—Rob Tannenbaum, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2025
Its most striking element is a tall glassy lobby that will provide a grand entrance from the new plaza, but the rest of the building is driven by functional massing that’s been sheathed with a desultory screen of metal and glass.
—Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for desultory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desultory
Adjective
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Din Djarin, Boba Fett, and a random stormtrooper are all effectively evoked by these simple outfits.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
4 July 2025
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The prime time talent show is once again ruining our viewing of acts by constantly cutting in reaction shots of the audience, hosts and random people.—
Ticked Off,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 July 2025
Adjective
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Refine your key points to be clear and concise—no rambling monologues.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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In the early morning hours of Dec. 26, 1996, Patsy Ramsey called 911 to report her 6-year-old daughter JonBenét missing, and found a rambling ransom note left inside their Boulder, Colorado, home.—
Erin Moriarty,
CBS News,
20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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His wandering eye soon focused on a mutual friend, the American heiress Pauline Pfeiffer, and the two began an affair.—
Tony Perrottet,
Smithsonian Magazine,
30 June 2025
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The wandering crocs are not the only examples of animals that were able to survive on islands far longer than on the mainland.—
Riley Black,
Smithsonian Magazine,
25 June 2025
Adjective
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These seemingly arbitrary small items are essentially sweeteners to win over lawmakers who might quibble with the broader thrust of the legislation.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
4 July 2025
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Regardless, the court continues to find that the government's actions were arbitrary and capricious, in part because the government never bothered to define the problems that would get a grant canceled.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
3 July 2025
Adjective
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In the video, Ina demonstrates that the secret lies in combo cooking; mixing direct and indirect grilling.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 June 2025
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Direct and indirect loans to the general fund budget come from special funds set aside for specific purposes, and after three years of deficit spending the state has accumulated many billions of dollars of internal debt that will have to be repaid sometime.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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China’s export growth has shown some resilience in recent months, even as the erratic U.S. tariff policies disrupted global trade.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
9 July 2025
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The plane made erratic maneuvers and several mayday calls before disappearing, the report said.—
Perry Vandell,
AZCentral.com,
9 July 2025
Adjective
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All this becomes a bit discursive, and frankly, dull — almost like a coastal Carlos Saura family portrait without the politics and without the clean lines and character definition to make the sprawl of relatives especially interesting.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2019
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And it’s also arrived at a particular moment, in a particular discursive world, in which opinions are strong, objections are instant, and differences are emphasized.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
27 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Desultory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desultory. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.
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