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
  • One control heats the ions by applying random electric-field signals that add vibrational energy.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 31 July 2026
  • Every piece of content must serve as a culturally relevant entry point that accumulates brand equity, especially when day-to-day audience engagement can be largely random.
    — Stefano Marrone, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of random
Adjective
  • But the documentary, to a fault, mirrors the Deadheads’ rambling aura and general absence of structure.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 July 2026
  • 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
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
  • The key question is how, exactly, these wandering giants got so far from their galactic centers.
    — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 29 July 2026
  • 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
Definition of wandering
Adjective
  • The rational response to such arbitrary power is not to satisfy consumer demands, but to keep in the good graces of the Big Player.
    — Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 27 July 2026
  • Keeping a dog leashed in bear country is not an arbitrary rule designed to ruin anyone’s fun.
    — Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 26 July 2026
Definition of arbitrary
Adjective
  • The return is indirect and the case is harder to make, but skimping here is what causes horizon-one wins to plateau and horizon-three ambitions to collapse.
    — Farooque Munshi, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
  • That said, there is indirect benefit if this year’s breaks set a precedent.
    — Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 21 July 2026
Definition of indirect
Adjective
  • Following the major season four finale death of Rudy Pankow‘s erratic-yet-lovable JJ Maybank, the crew at the heart of Netflix‘s teen treasure hunt series is setting out on one final adventure to avenge their best friend.
    — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 29 July 2026
  • The thundercloud also produced violent, erratic winds capable of driving the flames in new directions.
    — Thomas Adamson, Los Angeles Times, 29 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 2 Aug. 2026.

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