as in scattered
lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern
since we were new in town, our choice of a vet for our dog was entirely random
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of random
An elderly Air Force veteran who was shoved onto the tracks at a Manhattan subway station in a random attack has died of his injuries — and the alleged killer now faces murder charges.
—
Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2026
Today, the idea of turning any random passerby into an amateur botanist may not seem extraordinary.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
From a psychological perspective these are not random rituals.
—Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2026
The 3 million estimate came from the Center for Countering Digital Hate, based on a random sample of 20,000 images that Grok generated.
—Jonathan Stempel, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for random
Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2026
Today, the idea of turning any random passerby into an amateur botanist may not seem extraordinary.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
From a psychological perspective these are not random rituals.
—Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2026
The 3 million estimate came from the Center for Countering Digital Hate, based on a random sample of 20,000 images that Grok generated.
—Jonathan Stempel, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for random
Recent Examples of Synonyms for random
Adjective
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Earlier sunshine way to clouds and scattered rain as the first, in a series, of passing systems brings brief wet weather to Maryland.—
Cutter Martin,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
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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
Adjective
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In a show where the judging is often accused of being arbitrary, the makeover is considered the worst offender.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
21 Mar. 2026
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The shifting explanations, the defense argues, suggest the decision may have been arbitrary.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Slate had a history of squatting in the building, threatening residents, and acting in an erratic fashion, according to the Cook County State's Attorney's office.—
Tara Molina,
CBS News,
23 Mar. 2026
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Stroud’s development has stalled in Houston, where the Texans’ offensive line has long been a problem but can’t explain his erratic decision-making and dumbfounding turnovers.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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In addition, for almost two years, his wife, Deltah, drove Henard to Childress every Tuesday for infusions of Keytruda, an immune checkpoint inhibitor used to prevent recurrence of disease by attacking stray cancer cells that may still be circulating in the body.—
Caleb Hellerman,
CNN Money,
29 Mar. 2026
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Atlanta police are searching for three suspects after a Campbellton Road shooting injured one man and sent a stray bullet through a school bus window, causing minor injuries to two children.—
CBS News Atlanta Staff,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Garland died in 1969, of an accidental overdose of sleeping pills, but the tragedy did not hamper Minnelli’s ascent.—
Matt Weinstock,
New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2026
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An accidental house fire displaced seven people, including one child, early Wednesday in south Fort Worth.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Random.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/random. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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