indiscriminately
Americanadverb
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without exercising discernment or making appropriate distinctions.
Unfortunately, a lot of the bad name attributed to modern poetry is caused by people indiscriminately publishing just anything and calling it “poetry.”
-
in a haphazard or random way.
The troops reacted to the explosion by indiscriminately firing in all directions.
Etymology
Origin of indiscriminately
Explanation
Indiscriminately means in a random or careless way. If your teacher graded indiscriminately, she'd assign As and Ds haphazardly, without even considering her students' work. This adverb is great for describing action that's taken in a completely unsystematic way. One child puts away his toys carefully, sorting blocks into one basket and stuffed animals into another. His sister, on the other hand, indiscriminately tosses all her toys into one large box. When you discriminate, you recognize the difference between things; act indiscriminately, and you pay no attention to these distinctions. An alternate meaning is "without judgment."
Vocabulary lists containing indiscriminately
"The Bet" by Anton Chekhov
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The Awakening
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Words with 15 or More Letters, List 1
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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.
Striking indiscriminately at critical infrastructure would be wrong as well as unwise, punishing the Iranian people we need on our side.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 6, 2026
Often, in the early stages of a sell-off, some names that don’t deserve to drop so harshly take major hits as market participants sell indiscriminately.
From Barron's ● Mar. 6, 2026
For example, California police are now legally required to attempt de-escalation before resorting to less lethal weapons and are forbidden from firing indiscriminately into crowds.
From Salon ● Jan. 29, 2026
Regardless of breed, age or level of activity, dogs in the neighborhood have been indiscriminately affected by the elusive symptoms, Krause said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2025
Although today’s poisons are more dangerous than any known before, they have amazingly become something to be showered down indiscriminately from the skies.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
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.
