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

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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 Where Bonnie and Clyde glamorizes its couple and their crimes, Loden renders Wanda passive and desultory in the lawless turn her life has taken. — Air Mail, 23 May 2026 There'd be people sitting outside smoking, having desultory conversations, playing games. — Lale Arikoglu, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Mar. 2026 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 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
  • The program picks a random point in space and draws a line across the entire domain.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 12 Nov. 2026
  • Searches and requests are associated with a random identifier — a long string of letters and numbers — not a user’s Apple Account.
    — John Higgins, The Verge, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of random
Adjective
  • Once he was arrested, prosecutors said Ruiz made rambling, nonsensical statements that appeared paranoid and delusional.
    — William Lee, Chicago Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026
  • The rambling, low-slung main residence was extensively renovated by the couple, who also expanded with a separate building that’s tucked up under a vast lawn.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of rambling
Adjective
  • During the late morning-early afternoon hours of Friday, scattered area of lake-effect showers will develop and affect especially the northern and western portions of our forecast area.
    — Trey Fulbright, CBS News, 12 Nov. 2026
  • Security is thin and scattered downtown, and that morning was no different.
    — DP Opinion, Denver Post, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of scattered
Adjective
  • The enormously sensitive Plunkett is often responsible for them as Barbara, who’s quietly going through a tragedy in the background of all the wandering talk.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2026
  • When the wandering pooch finally narrowed his territory, Packer set up a humane trap and spent several days and nights nearby, waiting for Anchovy Jack to take the bait.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of wandering
Adjective
  • Federal prosecutors accuse Maduro and Flores of directing a campaign of political repression involving brutal interrogations, arbitrary detentions and the mistreatment of prisoners.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026
  • On October 9, 2026, a federal district court ruled that the policy exceeds the Justice Department's authority, is arbitrary and capricious, and violates federal law.
    — Eric McDaniel, NPR, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of arbitrary
Adjective
  • But Yotsukura said the bigger gains may come from indirect uses across productions that involve more than 100 staff.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Perhaps even more important are all the many indirect effects insects have on the food supply.
    — Chris Elphick, The Conversation, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of indirect
Adjective
  • Experts are warning Connecticut motorists to stay alert as the chances of colliding with deer are greatest during the final months of the year as white-tail deer mating season makes the animals more erratic and dangerous.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Meanwhile, neither of these games appears to have been optimized for the M5 Ultra's 80 GPU cores within the Mac Studio desktop, hence the erratic comparative results throughout.
    — Joe Osborne, PC Magazine, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of erratic
Adjective
  • Trump called into Fox News just after midnight, sounding a little whimsical and discursive.
    — Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Stephenson’s storytelling finesse – clever reveals, discursive side quests, stealthy plot twists – shines in this robust tale of British journalist Owen and his globe-spanning search for a missing English earl in 1934.
    — Monitor reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Oct. 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 15 Nov. 2026.

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