indiscriminately
Americanadverb
-
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
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!
The Awakening
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!
Words with 15 or More Letters, List 1
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.
“John cleared a tear gas canister away from everyone,” Johnson said, pushing back on the government’s account and adding that tear gas had been deployed indiscriminately by law enforcement.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 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
“Software has been indiscriminately sold with no consideration for the nuances between companies and stocks,” he writes.
From Barron's • Feb. 6, 2026
"People have been indiscriminately pulled off the street," Frey said.
From BBC • Jan. 29, 2026
The idea of spreading mercy, indiscriminately, or, to be more correct, spreading it on someone I really didn’t care about, enraptured me.
From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou
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.
