indiscriminately
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adverb:
- In an indiscriminate manner; without careful judgment or distinction: Acting or done without considering differences or making selections.
- In a random, haphazard, or unsystematic way: Occurring without a clear pattern, order, or purpose.
Usage and Examples
Basic Usage: The adverb describes how an action is performed—without making distinctions or in a random fashion.
- The herbicide was sprayed indiscriminately, killing both weeds and flowers.
- During the riot, shops were looted indiscriminately.
With Verbs of Action: Commonly modifies verbs like fire, kill, use, apply, distribute, bomb.
- The general was accused of ordering his troops to fire indiscriminately on the village.
- He accuses the media of reporting news indiscriminately, without verifying facts.
Advanced Usage and Nuances
- Implied Criticism: Often carries a negative connotation, suggesting a lack of care, responsibility, or ethics.
- Critics argue that collecting personal data indiscriminately is a violation of privacy.
- Emphasis on Lack of Selection: Highlights the absence of a specific target or criteria.
- A true connoisseur does not collect art indiscriminately but with a focused vision.
Variants and Related Words
- Indiscriminate (Adjective): Not showing careful thought or planning; not selective.
- The indiscriminate use of antibiotics leads to drug resistance.
- Indiscrimination (Noun, less common): The quality or state of being indiscriminate.
Synonyms
- Randomly: In a way that lacks a definite plan, pattern, or purpose.
- Haphazardly: In a manner lacking any obvious principle of organization.
- Promiscuously: In a way that demonstrates a lack of discrimination, especially in sexual relationships (can be used more broadly for a lack of selectivity).
- Unselectively: Without making a choice based on quality or suitability.
Antonyms
- Selectively: In a way that involves careful choice.
- Discriminately: With good judgment or careful distinction.
- Methodically: In a systematic and orderly way.
Related Phrases and Idioms
- At random: Without method or conscious choice. (Often used interchangeably in context.)
- Names were chosen at random from a list. (Compare: Names were chosen indiscriminately...)
- Without rhyme or reason: Having no sensible logic or purpose.
- The old rules seemed to have been applied indiscriminately, without rhyme or reason.
Adverb
- in an indiscriminate manner
- she reads promiscuously
- in a random manner
- the houses were randomly scattered
- bullets were fired into the crowd at random