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
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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
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Recent Examples of hit-or-miss
PC Magazine, 25 Oct. 2025
And while this didn’t necessarily mark the end of the league’s hit-or-miss booking strategy—turns out that 1997 Blues Brothers tribute featuring Jim Belushi and John Goodman wasn’t the product of a mass hallucination—the Wacko Jacko coup was a huge step forward for the NFL.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Scott Powers, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
The Trojans were five for 24 inside the arc through one half, left to rely instead on their long-range shooting, which mostly has been hit or miss.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hit-or-miss
Adjective
Although its interface works well, the actual recommendations are hit-or-miss.
—PC Magazine, 25 Oct. 2025
And while this didn’t necessarily mark the end of the league’s hit-or-miss booking strategy—turns out that 1997 Blues Brothers tribute featuring Jim Belushi and John Goodman wasn’t the product of a mass hallucination—the Wacko Jacko coup was a huge step forward for the NFL.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 17 Oct. 2025
Adverb
The offense has been hit or miss since Bedard’s injury.
—Scott Powers, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
The Trojans were five for 24 inside the arc through one half, left to rely instead on their long-range shooting, which mostly has been hit or miss.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hit-or-miss
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hit-or-miss
Adjective
-
Threema uses a random ID rather than a phone number.—
Jennifer Lutz,
New York Daily News,
19 Feb. 2026
-
These simulations weren’t random.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
19 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
These options let the computer randomly generate numbers for you.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026
-
At the end of the contest, three participants will be randomly selected to each receive a $75 MasterCard gift card.—
Aurora Beacon-News,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The scattered protests erupted Saturday at universities following 40-day memorials for people killed in January during antigovernment rallies.—
Jon Gambrell,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Instead of building individual homes on scattered sites, Reclaiming Chicago aims to transform whole neighborhoods at once, sometimes taking over large vacant lots and planting groups of more than 100 affordable homes.—
Brian J. Rogal,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The colonists were subject to arbitrary taxation, warrantless searches, standing armies in their homes, and other evils at the hands of the crown.—
Agustina Vergara Cid,
Oc Register,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Judges could reason the NCAA interpreting rules to allow pros from some leagues, but not others, is hypocritical and arbitrary.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The war has torn up a fifth of the country, but even with scant, erratic assistance, Ukrainians must emerge from the dust, to be applauded by the West, and go it close-to-alone again.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Together with Michael Imperioli, who played the erratic Christopher Moltisanti to his gentle, reliable Bobby Bacala, Schirripa opened up about the famously secretive set — and the extra precautions against that maybe should have been taken in hindsight.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hit-or-miss.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hit-or-miss. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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