indiscriminate

adjective

in·​dis·​crim·​i·​nate ˌin-di-ˈskri-mə-nət How to pronounce indiscriminate (audio)
-ˈskrim-nət
Synonyms of indiscriminate
1
a
: not marked by careful distinction : deficient in care and discernment
indiscriminate reading habits
indiscriminate mass destruction
is indiscriminate in his choice of friends
b
: haphazard, random
indiscriminate application of a law
especially : affecting or harming many people or things in a careless or unfair way
the indiscriminate use of pesticides
2
a
: promiscuous, unrestrained
indiscriminate sexual behavior
b
: heterogeneous, motley
an indiscriminate collection
indiscriminately adverb
indiscriminateness noun

Synonyms of indiscriminate

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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
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.
As the army chief, Mladić was the main architect of a brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing, directly overseeing widespread and indiscriminate killing, deportations and forcible transfers of civilians. — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026 In the Artibonite, gangs continued their territorial expansion through indiscriminate attacks on localities, targeting members of self-defense groups and residents inside their homes or in the streets, as well as farmers working in their fields. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026 After the 2017 crackdown, hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims crossed from Rakhine into neighboring Bangladesh on foot and by boat during shelling, indiscriminate killings and other violence. — ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026 Nehad Ajouri, uncle of the victim, Islam Maher Ajouri, called the shooting indiscriminate. — Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for indiscriminate

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

Rhymes for indiscriminate

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Browse Nearby Words

indiscretion
indiscriminate
indiscriminating
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Indiscriminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indiscriminate. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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