scattershot

adjective

scat·​ter·​shot ˈska-tər-ˌshät How to pronounce scattershot (audio)
: broadly and often randomly inclusive : shotgun
scattershot advice
scattershot planning

Examples of scattershot in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
A little of both, somehow, at once? Apple Cider Vinegar The Bottom Line Too scattershot to hit its mark. Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Feb. 2025 Not much, aside from rehashing the facts of the case in a lurid yet scattershot manner that has become typical of the shows that air on the streaming service. Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 5 Feb. 2025 These ideas make for a solid foundation, even though the movie is often scattershot. Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 27 Jan. 2025 Another source remained adamant that, for a team such as the Bears, the scattershot approach to this search must allow allow ample time for a second round of interviews in which at least four and up to six finalists are given in-person opportunities to meet. Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 12 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for scattershot

Word History

First Known Use

1951, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of scattershot was in 1951

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Cite this Entry

“Scattershot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scattershot. Accessed 26 Feb. 2025.

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