haphazardly
Americanadverb
Etymology
Origin of haphazardly
Explanation
Something done haphazardly seems completely random, like your little sister's collage of pictures cut carelessly from a magazine and haphazardly glued all over a piece of poster board. The adverb haphazardly is good for describing something done in an unplanned or random way without concern for the outcome; for example, you might put silverware away by haphazardly tossing it in a drawer, or plant a crazy garden with flowers haphazardly placed here and there around the yard. Haphazardly combines hap, meaning "chance," with hazard, or "danger."
Vocabulary lists containing haphazardly
The Watsons Go to Birmingham
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
100 SAT Words Beginning with "H"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
We haphazardly dressed in our cleanest warm clothes.
From Slate • Jan. 25, 2026
An early riser, Witkoff begins his day as it ends, pacing with his cellphone on a video call, its camera jerking haphazardly around the interior of his waterfront Miami mansion or private jet.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 20, 2025
Some Christmases, I’d be disappointed by Santas that felt carelessly constructed or haphazardly painted.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 16, 2025
I first tried a rustic version — ham and cheese tucked haphazardly among the buttered, glazed dough balls — and it was lovely in a messy, casserole-ish way.
From Salon • Sep. 30, 2025
Most of the world’s great cities have grown haphazardly, little by little, in response to the needs of the moment; very rarely is a city planned for the remote future.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
