desultory

[des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee]

adjective

1. lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful.

   desultory conversation.

2. digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random.

   a desultory remark.

desultory

/ ˈdɛsəltərɪ, -trɪ /

adjective

1. passing or jumping from one thing to another, esp in a fitful way; unmethodical; disconnected

2. occurring in a random or incidental way; haphazard

   a desultory thought

Other Word Forms

• desultorily adverb
• desultoriness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of desultory¹

1575–85; < Latin dēsultōrius pertaining to a dēsultor (a circus rider who jumps from one horse to another), equivalent to dēsul-, variant stem of dēsilīre to jump down ( dē- de- + -silīre, combining form of salīre to leap) + -tōrius -tory ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of desultory¹

C16: from Latin dēsultōrius, relating to one who vaults or jumps, hence superficial, from dēsilīre to jump down, from _de- + salīre to jump

Example Sentences

For one of the few exhilarating times in this desultory season, they were truly SC.

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Last night he did an obscure X interview show and seemed desultory and depressed.

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“How to Rob a Bank” isn’t really interested in those bigger questions, instead heading in a more desultory direction.

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His latest victim was Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who on Sunday ended his campaign with a desultory video in which he endorsed Trump.

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It was a suitably desultory ending for what has turned into a desultory caucus.

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Related Words

• aimless 
• chaotic 
• erratic 
• haphazard