as in random
lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern
your hit-or-miss schedule for taking your medication is going to land you in the hospital again
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in randomly
without definite aim, direction, rule, or method
I was learning Spanish hit or miss, mostly just by hearing my friends speak it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of hit-or-miss
Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2026
These setups are bizarre, provocative, and often hit-or-miss.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 21 Dec. 2025
Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 10 Jan. 2026
But the visa situation is complicated, and the infrastructure is hit or miss.
—Taylor Haught, Sacbee.com, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hit-or-miss
Adjective
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
These setups are bizarre, provocative, and often hit-or-miss.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 21 Dec. 2025
Adverb
Buffets can be hit or miss, but some restaurants are still getting it right, and diners across the country have taken notice.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 10 Jan. 2026
But the visa situation is complicated, and the infrastructure is hit or miss.
—Taylor Haught, Sacbee.com, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hit-or-miss
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hit-or-miss
Adjective
-
Fitzsimmons will still be subject to alcohol checks and random home inspections by probation officers.—
Kristina Rex,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
-
And then something random comes up and have to pause.—
Darcel Rockett,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Will Arnett appears in the last two episodes as an unorthodox — think Judd Hirsch in Ordinary People, only less Jewish — New York City shrink whose attractiveness everybody randomly comments on, almost-but-not-quite saving the urban portions of those episodes.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Mar. 2026
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Half were randomly assigned to eat a daily cup of mango and a daily cup of avocado, while the other half ate different foods that provided the same number of calories.—
Currie Engel,
Health,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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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
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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
-
In his ruling, Estudillo said the group failed to show that they were denied passes because of their political affiliations — which would be a violation of their First Amendment rights — and failed to show that the process was arbitrary, which would have violated their due process rights.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Mar. 2026
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Teaching of the Kurdish language is restricted, Kurdish names are banned from official registration, and Kurdish activists face arbitrary detention.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Oviedo has been excellent in each of his last two outings after a somewhat erratic spring debut, most recently striking out four over 3 1/3 scoreless innings in Saturday’s win over the Rays.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
8 Mar. 2026
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But the woman’s time on the stand was also contentious and erratic at times.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hit-or-miss.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hit-or-miss. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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