as in random
lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern
considering the haphazard way you measured the ingredients, it's a wonder the cookies came out this good
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in randomly
without definite aim, direction, rule, or method
shoes were tossed haphazard into the closet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of haphazard
Matt Egan, CNN Money, 11 July 2025
The hospital had become a field of haphazard body parts, the smell of Betadine infusing everything.
—Alireza Iranmehr, The Atlantic, 2 July 2025
The firings at some agencies were conducted in such a haphazard and unprofessional manner, leaving Trump administration officials scrambling.
—Mordechai Gordon, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2025
Those have included a wide variety of humanitarian aid programs, grants for institutions conducting medical research across the United States and a spate of haphazard layoffs.
—Zach Montague, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for haphazard
Adjective
Economists and trade researchers say the haphazard nature of the trade war is compounding the longer-term pressure on US manufacturing.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 11 July 2025
The hospital had become a field of haphazard body parts, the smell of Betadine infusing everything.
—Alireza Iranmehr, The Atlantic, 2 July 2025
The firings at some agencies were conducted in such a haphazard and unprofessional manner, leaving Trump administration officials scrambling.
—Mordechai Gordon, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2025
Those have included a wide variety of humanitarian aid programs, grants for institutions conducting medical research across the United States and a spate of haphazard layoffs.
—Zach Montague, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for haphazard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for haphazard
Adjective
-
The agreement says Campbell’s campaign was selected for audit at a random drawing in 2023.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Sep. 2025
-
The second verse is no less random, with lyrics about moonwalking on a UFO, dropping bars while brushing teeth and a shout out to legendary 2001 blaxploitation-adjacent comedy Pootie Tang.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
12 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
These options let the computer randomly generate numbers for you.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
-
The signature Borderlands loot system is here too, where every single weapon and piece of gear is randomly generated with numerous combinations of unique traits, making gameplay unpredictable and fun.—
George Yang,
PC Magazine,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The result was a mile-long line that turned scattered craftwork into synchronized production.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Aug. 2025
-
More likely, a supernova occurs inside a galaxy loaded with numerous, scattered clouds of gas and dust.—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
If senior figures display rudeness or disrespect, employees may assume that such behavior is acceptable, making selective enforcement seem arbitrary and undermining of trust.—
Andrew Binns,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Moreover, Burroughs further held that the administration’s actions were arbitrary and capricious, in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).—
Noah Feldman,
Twin Cities,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Between February and May, when Dudek’s tenure ended, his erratic rhetoric and decisions routinely made front-page news.—
Eli Hager,
ProPublica,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Dyrdhal knew all too well Gooden’s penchant for erratic violence.—
Mara H. Gottfried,
Twin Cities,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Haphazard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/haphazard. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share