indiscriminate

adjective

in·​dis·​crim·​i·​nate ˌin-di-ˈskri-mə-nət How to pronounce indiscriminate (audio)
-ˈskrim-nət
1
a
: not marked by careful distinction : deficient in discrimination and discernment
indiscriminate reading habits
indiscriminate mass destruction
b
: haphazard, random
indiscriminate application of a law
2
a
: promiscuous, unrestrained
indiscriminate sexual behavior
b
: heterogeneous, motley
an indiscriminate collection
indiscriminately adverb
indiscriminateness noun

Examples of indiscriminate in a Sentence

They participated in the indiscriminate slaughter of countless innocent victims. He objects to the indiscriminate use of pesticides. She has been indiscriminate in choosing her friends.
Recent Examples on the Web Public services have been limited, including trash collection, and cholera has resurfaced, while gangs have terrorized the population with systematic rape, indiscriminate kidnapping and mass killing. Maham Javaid, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024 Ojai becomes the second U.S. city to ban ‘horrible, indiscriminate killing devices’: glue traps. Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2024 Victims whose families cannot pay for their release are often killed, adding to the thousands of others who have lost their lives to indiscriminate gunfire, waves of arson, and other abuses. Caitlin Stephen Hu, CNN, 4 Mar. 2024 Both sides have committed indiscriminate attacks on civilians. Declan Walsh, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2024 While traveling across Ukraine last summer with a nonprofit aid group, the sight of a small town in eastern Ukraine hammered into me the indiscriminate nature of Russia’s onslaught. TIME, 13 Feb. 2024 Meanwhile, indiscriminate fishing tools such as gill nets ensnare and drown dugongs. Danna Staaf, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Feb. 2024 Russia’s indiscriminate airstrikes on hospitals and schools in Ukraine have rightly drawn condemnation from Biden and other administration officials. Sarah Yager, Foreign Affairs, 12 Feb. 2024 In January, during a meeting with the Palestinian ambassador, Lula condemned Hamas' attack on Oct. 7, but said there was no justification for the indiscriminate killing of civilians and pushed for a cease-fire. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 19 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'indiscriminate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of indiscriminate was circa 1598

Dictionary Entries Near indiscriminate

Cite this Entry

“Indiscriminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indiscriminate. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

indiscriminate

adjective
in·​dis·​crim·​i·​nate ˌin-dis-ˈkrim-(ə-)nət How to pronounce indiscriminate (audio)
: showing lack of discrimination : not choosing carefully
an indiscriminate reader
indiscriminate enthusiasm
indiscriminately adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on indiscriminate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!