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.
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
In each case, investors indiscriminately dumped shares in a style that was described again and again as “sell first, ask questions later.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026
"People have been indiscriminately pulled off the street," Frey said.
From BBC • Jan. 29, 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
Unfazed, she turned around and began stalking the aisles, indiscriminately pulling candy bars and bags of chips off the shelves.
From "We'll Fly Away" by Bryan Bliss
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.
