as in haphazard
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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 hit-and-miss
The hit-and-miss driverless experience comes despite Musk responding in September to a Robotaxi user’s social media lament about having a supervisor in the driver’s seat.
—
Andrea Guzmán, Austin American Statesman, 21 Jan. 2026
So much of the immediate pleasure of the show came from how unforced and unstudied the young ensemble was in the beginning, but what felt like brilliant casting in the beginning became increasingly more hit-and-miss as the show progressed.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 1 Jan. 2026
Perhaps not coincidentally, Crowe has been on a long-running, hit-and-miss self-improvement program for at least two decades.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 11 Dec. 2025
His hobby has grown to include 30 tractors, a number of hit-and-miss engines and several cars.
—Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Oct. 2025
They have been hit-and-miss with their high-quality opportunities, though, with their big-chance conversion rate of 33 per cent matching Manchester United’s.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
The storms are expected to be hit-and-miss, so not everyone will see rain.
—Kansas City Star, 17 Sep. 2025
The hit-and-miss nature has been highlighted by those with early access to the hardware.
—Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Creating embryo models has also been a hit-and-miss process for most research groups, with only a small percentage of stem cells going on to self-organize into embryo-like structures.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 30 July 2025
Andrea Guzmán, Austin American Statesman, 21 Jan. 2026
So much of the immediate pleasure of the show came from how unforced and unstudied the young ensemble was in the beginning, but what felt like brilliant casting in the beginning became increasingly more hit-and-miss as the show progressed.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 1 Jan. 2026
Perhaps not coincidentally, Crowe has been on a long-running, hit-and-miss self-improvement program for at least two decades.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 11 Dec. 2025
His hobby has grown to include 30 tractors, a number of hit-and-miss engines and several cars.
—Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Oct. 2025
They have been hit-and-miss with their high-quality opportunities, though, with their big-chance conversion rate of 33 per cent matching Manchester United’s.
—Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
The storms are expected to be hit-and-miss, so not everyone will see rain.
—Kansas City Star, 17 Sep. 2025
The hit-and-miss nature has been highlighted by those with early access to the hardware.
—Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Creating embryo models has also been a hit-and-miss process for most research groups, with only a small percentage of stem cells going on to self-organize into embryo-like structures.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 30 July 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hit-and-miss
Adjective
-
The attorneys, representing Guatemalan children following the government’s unsuccessful attempt to deport dozens of them in a haphazard overnight flight in August, say the policy violates a current injunction in place.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Feb. 2026
-
They're arranged in haphazard rows, with Andrew Jackson occupying a prime front spot simply because the owner likes his hair.—
Danielle Paquette The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The high-value heirlooms underscore that Dunn’s Attic isn’t your typical thrift store of second-hand donations or a rummage sale’s random assortment.—
Colleen McNally Arnett,
Southern Living,
26 Feb. 2026
-
That precious metal market volatility isn't just random noise, though.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Beyond Stanley, the Ravens haven’t spent a ton of money on veteran offensive linemen, which has put pressure on their young draft picks to develop — and that’s been hit-or-miss with guard Ben Cleveland, a third-round pick in 2021, heading the list of recent misses.—
Jeff Zrebiec,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2026
-
And while its status as an Academy Awards bellwether has been hit-or-miss over the years — particularly given the tumult surrounding the show and its members — recognition there can help boost a film’s prospects.—
Samantha Masunaga,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
And in legislative committees and in debate on Wednesday, sponsors of the new requirement didn’t cite evidence of more than scattered cases in which non-citizens may have voted.—
Anthony Man,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The scattered protests erupted Saturday at universities following 40-day memorials for people killed in January during anti-government rallies.—
Jon Gambrell,
Fortune,
22 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
But this new front office and coaching staff are at least attempting to transition from something aimless to structured, all in one offseason.—
Sam Blum,
New York Times,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The film, which shows an aimless day in the life of Austin, showcases some of its more eccentric characters.—
Michael Barnes,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
The presence of Notre Dame, the presence of Hannah Hidalgo, who had torched UConn twice before and is also in the national player-of-the-year conversation, the memory of a desultory loss in South Bend a year ago were enough to stoke Strong on Monday night.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The result is essentially an arbitrary purity test that tightens capital access necessary for creating American jobs and stimulating local economies.—
Krish O'Mara Vignarajah,
Baltimore Sun,
3 Mar. 2026
-
When individuals cross an arbitrary age threshold and are expected to step aside, society signals that relevance has an expiration date.—
Klaus Schwab,
Time,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
After 10-year-old Opal moves with her preacher father to the tiny fictional town of Naomi, Florida, a chance encounter with a stray dog at the local Winn-Dixie grocery store is the impetus for making friends and ultimately coming to terms with the changes in her life.—
Libby Monteith Minor,
Southern Living,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Safety glasses will protect your eyes from stray paint drips and splatters, while a proper mask will limit the inhalation of toxic fumes.—
Timothy Dale,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hit-and-miss.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hit-and-miss. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
