1
as in random
lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern
a desultory search for something of interest on TV
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2
as in rambling
passing from one topic to another
a desultory discussion about the news of the day
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Recent Examples of desultory
Freddie Freeman provided the thunder in Dodger Stadium on Friday night, lining a grand slam into the right-field bullpen in the eighth inning to turn what looked like a desultory loss to the Boston Red Sox into a dramatic 4-1 victory in front of a crowd of 51,562.
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Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2024
Meanwhile, the Cougars lost their head coach, Kyle Smith, to Stanford; the Beavers are fresh off another desultory season; and both programs were battered by attrition, with their best players entering the transfer portal.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 27 June 2024
What can seem desultory to the point of randomness is actually quite purposeful.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2024
Lippmann never gave more than a desultory response.
—Annalee Newitz, Scientific American, 24 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for desultory 
Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2024
Meanwhile, the Cougars lost their head coach, Kyle Smith, to Stanford; the Beavers are fresh off another desultory season; and both programs were battered by attrition, with their best players entering the transfer portal.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 27 June 2024
What can seem desultory to the point of randomness is actually quite purposeful.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2024
Lippmann never gave more than a desultory response.
—Annalee Newitz, Scientific American, 24 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for desultory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desultory
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People Magazine Investigates The shooting appeared random at first, but police eventually unspooled a strange plot involving Li's ex-wife and a bitter custody dispute over their son, Arik, who has severe disabilities stemming from a medical misdiagnosis early in his life.Liam Quinn, People.com, 7 Dec. 2024
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Spencer’s in one picture: random nic-nacs, over-the-top lingerie, and lava lamps in every possible color combination.Mark Dent, thehustle.co, 6 Dec. 2024
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His statement came a day after the release of the Netflix series, which takes viewers back to the morning after Christmas 28 years ago, when JonBenét’s mother called 911 to report finding a rambling ransom note and her daughter missing.Elizabeth Chuck, NBC News, 3 Dec. 2024
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There is more than 178 feet of beach and ocean frontage, which can be accessed via a rambling wooden staircase.Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The film is narrated in the languages of the cultures the characters move through, as Burmese gives way to Thai, to Vietnamese, and beyond — a wandering, collective dream.Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2024
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Take in all of Bernardo’s wandering wonder, then listen to what makes your traveling heart beat stronger.Laura Manske, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024
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During a dinner banquet later the same day, Belousov said the two countries’ strategic partnership was crucial to defend their sovereignty from aggression and the arbitrary actions of imperialists, North Korean state media said.Hyung-Jin Kim, Los Angeles Times, 30 Nov. 2024
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After Leung's sentencing, the U.S. recommended -- though without citing specific cases -- that Americans reconsider traveling to China because of arbitrary law enforcement and exit bans and the risk of wrongful detentions.Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports, arkansasonline.com, 28 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Aleksandra Bal covers indirect tax and technology developments.Aleksandra Bal, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024
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According to a local economic impact report released by Treviño earlier this year, more than 3,400 SpaceX employees and contractors work at the Starbase site, while more than 21,000 indirect jobs in the community are generated by Starbase.Miranda Nazzaro, The Hill, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Ana Navarro and Whoopi Goldberg clashed on The View over their opposing perspectives about how to take on Donald Trump‘s erratic policies ahead of his inauguration in January amid the holidays.Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 9 Dec. 2024
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Whitfield was acting erratic and running naked around his parents' home when officers arrived.Ryan Murphy, The Indianapolis Star, 6 Dec. 2024
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Their discursive subjects might include an elevator speech to prep a significant other about the gaudiness of the family fortune.Melvin Backman, Quartz, 19 Nov. 2024
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For all the discursive conversations about finding meaning in a dying world, this is still fundamentally a show where plot takes precedence over character.Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 27 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near desultory
Cite this Entry
“Desultory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desultory. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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