HIT-AND-MISS Synonyms: 76 Similar and Opposite Words

hit-and-miss

adjective

Definition of hit-and-miss

as in haphazard

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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 Drew Allar, Penn State Allar has prototypical size, tantalizing arm strength and… well, hit-and-miss production. — Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 8 Apr. 2026 Alabama transfer Isaiah Bond was more hit-and-miss, and Oregon State’s Silas Bolden had little impact other than letting punts bounce for extra yards time after time. — Kirk Bohls, Houston Chronicle, 9 Mar. 2026 But overall, styling is hit-and-miss on this one in my humble opinion. — New Atlas, 4 Mar. 2026 And to say its fusillade of jokes is hit-and-miss would also be a charitable take. — Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hit-and-miss

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hit-and-miss

Adjective

Violent crime, once almost unknown on the island, is rising sharply—another sign of the state’s haphazard retreat.

— Will Freeman, Foreign Affairs, 17 Sep. 2026
With no clear guidance, haphazard and improvised efforts by companies to clean the homes left 6 in 10 residences still unsafe.

— Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of haphazard

Adjective

In 1900, French mathematician Louis Bachelier used mathematics to model the random movement of prices in his Sorbonne thesis.

— Mamadou-Abou Sarr, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026
How the Blue Cross fraud claims unfolded In January 2023, Blue Cross NC’s special investigations unit flagged C&FD and requested medical, operational and credentialing records for a random sample of 419 member claims, according to the lawsuit.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of random

Adjective

The extra software gimmicks, however, remain a bit hit-or-miss.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 22 Sep. 2026
The problem is that those splash plays and big weeks usually happen on fantasy benches because Shaheed is far too hit-or-miss (or miss or miss) to be counted on as more than a desperation play.

— Gary Davenport, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of hit-or-miss

Adjective

Monday in Philadelphia stays cool and unsettled, with the front stalled just south of the region and scattered rain chances, especially across southeastern Pennsylvania, South Jersey and Delaware.

— Andrew Kozak, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026
The scattered pieces of the former storm will likely drift over the Caribbean and soak Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Hispaniola with a few inches of rain, some of which will reach Florida.

— Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of scattered

Adjective

Youth sports, once the redoubt of aimless childhood play, have become hopelessly commercialized.

— Nora Kenney Mittiga, Washington Post, 21 Sep. 2026
Last year, the offense was aimless, punchless and ill-suited for Gio Lopez’s skill set.

— The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of aimless

Adjective

Sixty or so people formed a desultory circle in front of the birds or slumped on bleachers hung with a banner that read the world is watching.

— J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
Can anything more than the most desultory gesture at a novel emerge while these questions go unanswered?

— Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of desultory

Adjective

He was convicted of four counts of war crimes including murder, torture, cruel treatment and arbitrary detention.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2026
Human rights groups and United Nations officials have accused the Syrian government of widespread abuses in its detention facilities, including torture and arbitrary detention of thousands of people, in many cases without informing their families.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of arbitrary

Adjective

Health officials are urging residents to take preventive measures by using flea control year-round on their pets and not feeding stray animals.

— Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
The feeding of stray cats by residents of communities governed by associations is a fairly common issue for boards of directors and their property managers.

— Michael L. Hyman, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of stray

Browse Nearby Words

hit

hit-and-miss

hit-and-run

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“Hit-and-miss.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hit-and-miss. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of hit-and-miss

adjective

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