desultory

adjective

ˈde-səl-ˌtȯr-ē How to pronounce desultory (audio)
Definition of desultorynext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of desultory With all due respect to Swords and Holloway, Olson has taken the team on her back since Michigan’s desultory loss to Iowa last week. — Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026 Though desultory violence by remaining members of the group continued for years, the autumn of 1977 marked the climax of the violent campaigns of extremist left wing groups in the country. — Jason Burke, Time, 27 Feb. 2026 Once more, police made desultory enquiries and soon lost interest, their investigative resources stretched thin by a recent string of bombings in London by Irish republican extremists. — Literary Hub, 16 Jan. 2026 Conversation at Mels Diner is desultory and disinclined to matters so impractical, uncomfortable. — David Searcy, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for desultory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desultory
  1. random
  2. rambling
  3. scattered
  4. wandering
  5. arbitrary
  6. indirect
  7. erratic
  8. discursive
Adjective
  • Oen Sujet’s catalog sounds equally like the product of a random number generator or a malfunctioning algorithm as of a deeply mercurial artist.
    — Maxie Younger, Pitchfork, 24 July 2026
  • That should show up in random DNA sequences only about once in 70 billion bases, and our genome is only about 3 billion bases.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 24 July 2026
Definition of random
Adjective
  • The rambling title track is another thoughtful tribute, paying homage to the female warriors that tend bar while often experiencing hell.
    — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 16 July 2026
  • Plant Rambling Vines Another way to make the most of your landscape is by planting lovely rambling vines.
    — Mary Alice Russell, Southern Living, 13 July 2026
Definition of rambling
Adjective
  • The right conversation could turn scattered effort into a working plan.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 5 July 2026
  • If your data is messy, scattered or stale, the AI output fails.
    — Sagi Eliyahu, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
Definition of scattered
Adjective
  • Some digging around Amazon led me to the Hollywood Fashion Secrets Bra Converting Clip, which has singlehandedly solved my wandering-strap woes.
    — Sophie Wirt, InStyle, 9 July 2026
  • Controlled mind-wandering — Mind-wandering is a spontaneous zoning out of your immediate surroundings.
    — Eric Zillmer, Scientific American, 26 June 2026
Definition of wandering
Adjective
  • In previous work, Sarkar and his colleagues developed a method capable of self-testing arbitrary quantum states and measurements.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 18 July 2026
  • Retirement experts caution, though, that any arbitrary savings goal is of limited use, more a guidepost than a hard target.
    — Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 18 July 2026
Definition of arbitrary
Adjective
  • By dominating the digital world, Silicon Valley has already exerted indirect control over the physical one.
    — Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 18 July 2026
  • Instead, they must be placed outside the barrier, forcing reliance on indirect measurements during operation and physical inspection after shutdown, according to a press release.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 July 2026
Definition of indirect
Adjective
  • Dolphins are the outlier, with a genetic quirk that produces an erratic sleep pattern not fitting neatly into the other three.
    — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 22 July 2026
  • An erratic sleeper whose pattern does not fit neatly into any other category.
    — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 22 July 2026
Definition of erratic
Adjective
  • Like members of the Women’s Rights Convention, these outsiders often invoked the Declaration of Independence as a discursive weapon.
    — Brian DeLay, Mercury News, 4 July 2026
  • But by the boulder the real action was social and discursive.
    — Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Definition of discursive

Browse Nearby Words

desultorily
desultory
detach
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Cite this Entry

“Desultory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desultory. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of desultory for Spanish Speakers

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