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
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One plastic sandwich bag full of random baubles could bring in more than $20,000 once the gold was refined.—
Alex Morris,
Rolling Stone,
19 Mar. 2026
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Organizers announced three lucky grand prize winners drawn at random will each receive a bundle of bookstore gift cards, store merch and books.—
Katie Wiseman,
IndyStar,
19 Mar. 2026
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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InThis arbitrary selection was not a neutral act of civic stewardship.—
Matt Klink,
Oc Register,
17 Mar. 2026
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The report did not say exactly how many people are subject to arbitrary detention.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
17 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
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Slapdash.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slapdash. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
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