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
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Recent Examples of desultory
Yet, the Raptors haven’t made the playoffs in the desultory East since 2022, when Philadelphia dispatched them in the first round.
—
David Aldridge, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
Although the United States and its allies could deal with such ripostes, there would be no obvious military strategy to bring even a desultory exchange of strikes and counterstrikes to an end.
—Barry R. Posen, Foreign Affairs, 7 Sep. 2010
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
See All Example Sentences for desultory
David Aldridge, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
Although the United States and its allies could deal with such ripostes, there would be no obvious military strategy to bring even a desultory exchange of strikes and counterstrikes to an end.
—Barry R. Posen, Foreign Affairs, 7 Sep. 2010
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
See All Example Sentences for desultory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desultory
Adjective
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In case of doubt, competent authorities may carry out random on-site inspections of cybersecurity standards in the companies, for which the management can be held liable.—
Dennis-Kenji Kipker,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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Until then, the random Week 17 NFL game will prove to be a downgrade from Peacock’s exclusive Week 1 game last season — the league’s first-ever regular-season game in South America — which itself was a downgrade from its own preceding season’s exclusive NFL Wild Card Weekend game.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Aug. 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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In today’s opinions newsletter: Keeping the A/C on, the Cardinals’ playoff prospects and lessons from a wandering wolf.—
Joanna Allhands,
AZCentral.com,
11 Aug. 2025
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However, Loeb and his colleagues have continued to advocate its potential alien origin and have proposed missions to track down the wandering space rock.—
Harry Baker,
Space.com,
29 July 2025
Adjective
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In some ways, are triple doubles an arbitrary achievement?—
Shane Young,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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Lalami clearly needed a way to get Sara home to end the book, and springing her in this way is consistent with the arbitrary nature of her incarceration and the mercurial behavior of her keepers.—
Book Marks
August 7,
Literary Hub,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Google’s new Pixel 10 ad, that takes an indirect shot at Apple’s Siri problems, gives us an insight into how the upcoming smartphone battle will unfold.—
Janhoi McGregor,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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First, the American government was central to the course of revolution, although in indirect ways.—
Arash Azizi,
The Atlantic,
5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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As observed through their youngest daughter as the film’s protagonist, a family of six’s move to a new home seems to trigger erratic, dangerous behavior in their oldest son.—
Josh Slater-Williams,
IndieWire,
6 Aug. 2025
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The tech industry can be easy to hate—the erratic CEOs, the biased algorithms, the environmental damage.—
Sarah Rose Etter,
The Atlantic,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Zen Buddhism is unlike Stoic philosophy on the role of discursive, as opposed to intuitive, reasons.—
Sebastian Purcell
August 18,
Literary Hub,
18 Aug. 2025
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McPherson’s discursive humanism exactly suits both O’Reilly’s light directorial touch and the confident realism of his company of (largely) Irish actors.—
Helen Shaw,
New Yorker,
11 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Desultory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desultory. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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