1
as in random
lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern
a desultory search for something of interest on TV
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rambling
passing from one topic to another
a desultory discussion about the news of the day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of desultory
The Expos finished 52-110. — 1943 and 1916 Athletics, 20 in a row: Mack (not Mauch) staggered through a desultory August 1943, that included 24 losses in the last 25 games of the month.
—
Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2024
If nothing else, that suggested negotiations were indeed ongoing – a positive sign in otherwise desultory U.S.-Russian relations.
—Fred Weir, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Aug. 2024
Freddie Freeman provided the thunder in Dodger Stadium on Friday night, lining a grand slam into the right-field bullpen in the eighth inning to turn what looked like a desultory loss to the Boston Red Sox into a dramatic 4-1 victory in front of a crowd of 51,562.
—Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2024
Meanwhile, the Cougars lost their head coach, Kyle Smith, to Stanford; the Beavers are fresh off another desultory season; and both programs were battered by attrition, with their best players entering the transfer portal.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 27 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for desultory 
Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2024
If nothing else, that suggested negotiations were indeed ongoing – a positive sign in otherwise desultory U.S.-Russian relations.
—Fred Weir, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Aug. 2024
Freddie Freeman provided the thunder in Dodger Stadium on Friday night, lining a grand slam into the right-field bullpen in the eighth inning to turn what looked like a desultory loss to the Boston Red Sox into a dramatic 4-1 victory in front of a crowd of 51,562.
—Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2024
Meanwhile, the Cougars lost their head coach, Kyle Smith, to Stanford; the Beavers are fresh off another desultory season; and both programs were battered by attrition, with their best players entering the transfer portal.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 27 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for desultory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desultory
Adjective
-
On a random note: Long before those assignments, Chuck was pepper-sprayed covering the disturbances in Miami the morning Elián Gonzalez was whisked away by federal authorities.—
Charles Rabin,
Miami Herald,
30 Jan. 2025
-
The robot learns in a virtual environment, earning higher scores for better stacking performance with random items.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
Fox News,
30 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
In the early morning hours of Dec. 26, 1996, Patsy Ramsey called 911 to report her 6-year-old daughter JonBenét missing, and found a rambling ransom note left inside their Boulder, Colorado, home.—
Erin Moriarty,
CBS News,
20 Dec. 2024
-
His statement came a day after the release of the Netflix series, which takes viewers back to the morning after Christmas 28 years ago, when JonBenét’s mother called 911 to report finding a rambling ransom note and her daughter missing.—
Elizabeth Chuck,
NBC News,
3 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
The open spaces all around us invite Angelenos to ditch the concrete grid for the wandering switchbacks.—
Andrew Moseman,
The Atlantic,
15 Jan. 2025
-
One thing Sacco is not concerned about with Frederic is a wandering focus because of his contract situation.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
30 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Right-wing people choosing to pick on LGBTQ folks was almost arbitrary.—
Tessa Stuart,
Rolling Stone,
24 Jan. 2025
-
The energy is used not to create goods or services but to solve arbitrary puzzles that sustain speculative networks.—
Eric Solis,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
In November, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership estimated the storm’s direct and indirect economic effects across the southwest Virginia region cost more than $2 billion.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
27 Jan. 2025
-
The company says the program supports more than 43,000 direct and indirect jobs and $8.9 billion in annual economic impact in Texas.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Biden appeared unsteady, his responses erratic, his voice a hoarse whisper.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
16 Jan. 2025
-
The mountains can also make the winds more erratic because additional whirls of wind, known as wind eddies, can form as the air moves across the peaks and through the canyons.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
14 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
There’s a discursive ramble about ordering Chinese food that takes on a strange power.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
27 Jan. 2025
-
The concerto can appear undisciplined and discursive, with a running time of 70 minutes, a medley-like approach to style and a finale that brings in a male choir for a paean to nature.—
Joshua Barone,
New York Times,
24 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near desultory
Cite this Entry
“Desultory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desultory. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share