Desultory — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈde-səl-ˌtȯr-ē/ des·ul·to·ry

Meaning & Definition of Desultory

Desultory (adjective)

  1. marked by lack of definite plan, regularity, or purpose
  2. not connected with the main subject
  3. disappointing in progress, performance, or quality

Desultory (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern

    "a desultory search for something of interest on TV"

    similar: aimless, arbitrary, catch-as-catch-can, erratic, haphazard, helter-skelter, hit-or-miss, random, scattered, slapdash, stray
    related: accidental, casual, chance, chancy, contingent, fluky, fortuitous, inadvertent, incidental, lucky, unconsidered, unintended, unintentional, unplanned, unpremeditated, scattershot, shotgun, irregular, odd, sporadic, spot, directionless, objectless, purposeless, indiscriminate, unsystematic, undirected, disorderly, disorganized, undiscriminating, unselective
    opposite: methodical, nonrandom, orderly, organized, regular, systematic, systematized
    near: established, fixed, regular, set, stable, steady, constant, continuous, even, arranged, managed, orchestrated, ordered, planned, aware, conscious, deliberate, purposeful, thoughtful, willful

  2. passing from one topic to another

    "a desultory discussion about the news of the day"

    similar: digressional, digressionary, digressive, discursive, excursive, leaping, maundering, meandering, rambling, wandering
    related: circuitous, deviating, devious, indirect, roundabout
    near: coherent, consistent, logical, direct, focused, straightforward, undeviating

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Desultory

The most common words with a similar meaning to Desultory:

aimless, arbitrary, catch-as-catch-can, erratic, haphazard, helter-skelter, hit-or-miss, random, scattered, slapdash, stray, digressional, digressionary, digressive, discursive, excursive, leaping, maundering, meandering, rambling, wandering

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Desultory

Words with the opposite meaning of Desultory:

methodical, nonrandom, orderly, organized, regular, systematic, systematized

Related Words for Desultory

accidental, casual, chance, chancy, contingent, fluky, fortuitous, inadvertent, incidental, lucky, unconsidered, unintended, unintentional, unplanned, unpremeditated, scattershot, shotgun, irregular, odd, sporadic, spot, directionless, objectless, purposeless, indiscriminate, unsystematic, undirected, disorderly, disorganized, undiscriminating

Near Antonyms of Desultory

established, fixed, set, stable, steady, constant, continuous, even, arranged, managed, orchestrated, ordered, planned, aware, conscious, deliberate, purposeful, thoughtful, willful, coherent, consistent, logical, direct, focused, straightforward, undeviating

Word Forms of Desultory

Derived words: desultorily (adverb), desultoriness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Desultory

Latin desultorius, literally, of a circus rider who leaps from horse to horse, from desilire to leap down, from de- + salire to leap sally

First known use: 1581

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Desultory

Frequently Asked Questions about Desultory

What does "Desultory" mean?

"Desultory" means marked by lack of definite plan, regularity, or purpose. As an adjective, it is defined as: marked by lack of definite plan, regularity, or purpose. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Desultory"?

Other words for "Desultory" include aimless, arbitrary, catch-as-catch-can, erratic, haphazard, helter-skelter, hit-or-miss and random. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Desultory" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Desultory"?

There are 57 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Desultory". Common alternatives include aimless, arbitrary, catch-as-catch-can, erratic, haphazard, helter-skelter, hit-or-miss, random, scattered and slapdash.

What is the opposite of "Desultory"?

Antonyms of "Desultory" include methodical, nonrandom, orderly, organized, regular, systematic and systematized. Near antonyms include established, fixed, set and stable.

How do you use "Desultory" in a sentence?

Examples of "Desultory" in a sentence: "a desultory search for something of interest on TV"; "a desultory discussion about the news of the day".

Is "Desultory" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Desultory" is an adjective.

Is "Desultory" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Desultory" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Desultory"?

"Desultory" is pronounced /ˈde-səl-ˌtȯr-ē/ and divided into syllables as des·ul·to·ry.