as in random
lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern
considering the haphazard way you measured the ingredients, it's a wonder the cookies came out this good
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in randomly
without definite aim, direction, rule, or method
shoes were tossed haphazard into the closet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of haphazard
Zach Montague, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025
Both shows just burn through villains in the most haphazard and jarring way, never really allowing for any of them to build up into something truly threatening, let alone interesting enough to carry the mantle of Big Bad.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 22 June 2025
That fact was evident not only in the casualties and hostage-taking during the massacre, but in the grinding, brutal, and haphazard war in Gaza that has followed.
—Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 13 June 2025
Trump's attempts to reduce the size of the payroll, often in a manner seen as haphazard, have caused anxiety and alarm.
—Jonathan Allen, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for haphazard
Adjective
Those have included a wide variety of humanitarian aid programs, grants for institutions conducting medical research across the United States and a spate of haphazard layoffs.
—Zach Montague, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025
Both shows just burn through villains in the most haphazard and jarring way, never really allowing for any of them to build up into something truly threatening, let alone interesting enough to carry the mantle of Big Bad.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 22 June 2025
That fact was evident not only in the casualties and hostage-taking during the massacre, but in the grinding, brutal, and haphazard war in Gaza that has followed.
—Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 13 June 2025
Trump's attempts to reduce the size of the payroll, often in a manner seen as haphazard, have caused anxiety and alarm.
—Jonathan Allen, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for haphazard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for haphazard
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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The Chinese scientist used the gene-editing technique known as CRISPR, which allows scientists to make very precise changes in DNA much more easily than ever before but can cause potentially dangerous random mutations.—
Rob Stein,
NPR,
6 Aug. 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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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Haphazard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/haphazard. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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