as in random
lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern
the police department's investigation of the charges against the mayor was slapdash and not very thorough
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Recent Examples of slapdash
Their design was unpolished, even primitive, seemingly to convey a sense of slapdash amateurishness.
—
Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
Courts have barred similarly slapdash efforts to appoint a slate of Trump-friendly prosecutors, harass law firms the president dislikes, withhold federal funding from a range of institutions, and deploy the National Guard to peaceful cities despite opposition from blue-state governors.
—Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 20 Jan. 2026
The initiative felt slapdash, and open to divergent interpretations.
—Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 27 Nov. 2025
This is a face only Frankenstein's mom would love, put together like a slapdash jigsaw puzzle with the help of an industrial-grade stapler.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slapdash
Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
Courts have barred similarly slapdash efforts to appoint a slate of Trump-friendly prosecutors, harass law firms the president dislikes, withhold federal funding from a range of institutions, and deploy the National Guard to peaceful cities despite opposition from blue-state governors.
—Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 20 Jan. 2026
The initiative felt slapdash, and open to divergent interpretations.
—Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 27 Nov. 2025
This is a face only Frankenstein's mom would love, put together like a slapdash jigsaw puzzle with the help of an industrial-grade stapler.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slapdash
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slapdash
Adjective
-
May 21 – June 20 A random chat could inspire you to make smarter moves.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
2 Apr. 2026
-
They are proven hitters, and baseball can be random, especially in this early part of the season when ballparks are still frozen and very few players are in midseason form.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Another concern is the protection of Route 90, the only highway connecting the small and scattered communities of the north, on which the 27-year-old woman was killed last week.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
-
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
Adjective
-
The Bulls don’t want Buzelis to get caught up in hitting an arbitrary number on the scale.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The advisory does not specify uniform procedures at the border but warns travelers that electronic data may be accessed and that enforcement can be arbitrary.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
All of this is a bit haphazard, and none of it is very deep or revealing.—
Naomi Fry,
New Yorker,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Lawmakers have accused the Justice Department of withholding too many files and criticized the agency for haphazard redactions that exposed intimate details about victims.—
Alanna Durkin Richer,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Washington’s commitment has been erratic.—
Eric Klinenberg,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Sam must deal with erratic Mob enforcer Nicky (Joe Pesci) and his own con artist wife, Ginger (Sharon Stone), who still has a personal relationship with her boyfriend/pimp.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Slapdash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slapdash. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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