indiscriminate

[ in-di-skrim-uh-nit ]

adjective

1. not discriminating or discerning; lacking in care, judgment, selectivity, etc.:

   indiscriminate in one's friendships.

2. done at random or without making distinctions; haphazard:

   indiscriminate slaughter.

3. not kept apart or divided; thrown together; jumbled:

   an indiscriminate combination of colors and styles.

   Synonyms: varied, motley, mixed, heterogeneous, random

indiscriminate

/ ˌɪndɪˈskrɪmɪnɪt /

adjective

1. lacking discrimination or careful choice; random or promiscuous
2. jumbled; confused

Derived Forms

• ˌindisˈcriminately, adverb
• ˌindisˈcriminateness, noun
• ˌindisˌcrimiˈnation, noun

Other Words From

• in·dis·crim·i·nate·ly adverb
• in·dis·crim·i·nate·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of indiscriminate¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; in- ³ + discriminate (adjective)

Synonym Study

See miscellaneous.

Example Sentences

JVP condemns Hamas’ war crimes, such as indiscriminate killing of civilians and taking of civilian hostages on Oct.

From Salon

Polls show that most Americans want tougher enforcement of immigration laws — but they don’t support indiscriminate deportations, especially if they divide families.

From Los Angeles Times

"There is hardly a building that is not damaged. And large areas looked like Stalingrad after the Second World War. You cannot fathom how intense this indiscriminate bombing has been on this trapped population," he said.

From BBC

Most economists say his high, indiscriminate tariffs would raise prices on both imports and domestic goods.

From Los Angeles Times

But many Arab Americans and Democrats want her to go further by conditioning American aid to Israel on an end to indiscriminate bombing, a guarantee that Israel will not occupy Gaza in the long term and peace talks centered on a two-state solution.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• aimless
• extensive
• haphazard
• unplanned
• wholesale