desultory

adjective

des·​ul·​to·​ry ˈde-səl-ˌtȯr-ē 

-zəl-;

di-ˈsəl-t(ə-)rē,

-ˈzəl-

1

: marked by lack of definite plan, regularity, or purpose

a dragged-out ordeal of … desultory shopping

—Herman Wouk

2

: not connected with the main subject

desultory comments

3

: disappointing in progress, performance, or quality

a desultory fifth place finish

a desultory wine

desultorily

ˌde-səl-ˈtȯr-ə-lē 

adverb

desultoriness

ˈde-səl-ˌtȯr-ē-nəs 

noun

Did you know?

The Latin adjective desultorius was used by the ancients to refer to a circus performer (called a desultor) whose trick was to leap from horse to horse without stopping. It makes sense, then, that someone or something desultory "jumps" from one thing to another. (Desultor and desultorius, by the way, come from the Latin verb salire, meaning "to leap.") A desultory conversation leaps from one topic to another and doesn't have a distinct point or direction. A desultory student skips from one subject to another without applying serious effort to any particular one. A desultory comment is a digressive one that jumps away from the topic at hand. And a desultory performance is one resulting from an implied lack of steady, focused effort.

Synonyms

• aimless
• arbitrary
• catch-as-catch-can
• erratic
• haphazard
• helter-skelter
• hit-or-miss
• random
• scattered
• slapdash
• stray

Examples of desultory in a Sentence

a desultory search for something of interest on TV

a desultory discussion about the news of the day

Recent Examples on the Web

There are no twisted strings, no mangled head, no desultory tossing of the useless implement to the side. —James Hansen, The Athletic, 16 Aug. 2024

Trade between the states remains strong, yet communication between the two countries, once robust, is now mostly desultory meetings between officials and foreign ministers. —Shivshankar Menon, Foreign Affairs, 8 Dec. 2021

The Expos finished 52-110. — 1943 and 1916 Athletics, 20 in a row: Mack (not Mauch) staggered through a desultory August 1943, that included 24 losses in the last 25 games of the month. —Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2024

If nothing else, that suggested negotiations were indeed ongoing – a positive sign in otherwise desultory U.S.-Russian relations. —Fred Weir, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

desultory

adjective

des·​ul·​to·​ry ˈdes-əl-ˌtōr-ē 

-ˌtȯr-

: passing aimlessly from one thing or subject to another

desultory conversation

desultorily

ˌdes-əl-ˈtōr-ə-lē 

-ˈtȯr-

adverb

desultoriness

ˈdes-əl-ˌtōr-ē-nəs 

-ˌtȯr-

noun