indiscrimination

indiscrimination

A child picks up toys with indiscrimination, putting both blocks and stuffed animals into the same colorful bin.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • Lack of discrimination: "Indiscrimination" refers to the quality or state of not making careful distinctions or judgments; acting without discernment or selectivity. It implies a failure to differentiate between people, things, or situations based on their merits, qualities, or categories.
    • Tendency to be indiscriminate: It denotes a habit or practice of treating all things or people alike, often in a careless, random, or unselective manner.
Usage Examples
  • (The charity failed to distinguish between needy and non-needy recipients.)
  • (She did not carefully evaluate people before befriending them.)
  • (The policy did not make clear distinctions between lawful and unlawful actions.)
Advanced Usage
  • "act with indiscrimination": to behave without careful distinction.

    • The judge accused the police of acting with indiscrimination when they arrested everyone at the protest. (The police arrested people without differentiating between peaceful protesters and agitators.)
  • "the indiscrimination of nature": a poetic or philosophical phrase describing natural phenomena that do not make moral judgments.

    • The earthquake showed the indiscrimination of nature, destroying both rich and poor homes alike. (Natural disasters strike without regard to social status.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Indiscriminate (adj): done without careful judgment; random or unselective.

    • The indiscriminate use of antibiotics has led to drug resistance. (Using antibiotics without proper medical reason.)
  • Indiscriminately (adv): in a way that lacks careful distinction.

    • He threw money indiscriminately at every beggar he saw. (He gave money without judging each person's need.)
  • Discrimination (n): the ability to make careful distinctions; the act of treating people differently, often unfairly.

    • She showed great discrimination in choosing the best wine. (She made careful judgments.)
Synonyms
  • Undiscernment: lack of ability to perceive differences.
  • Unselectiveness: the quality of not being selective or choosy.
  • Randomness: lack of pattern or purpose; chance.
  • Promiscuity (in a non-sexual sense): lack of selectivity; mixing without order.
Antonyms
  • Discrimination: the ability to make fine distinctions.
  • Selectivity: the practice of careful choice.
  • Discretion: the quality of behaving with careful judgment.
Related Idioms
  • "Throw the baby out with the bathwater": to discard something valuable along with something unwanted due to indiscrimination.

    • The company's indiscrimination in firing employees meant they lost their best engineer. (They failed to distinguish between good and bad workers.)
  • "A shot in the dark": an attempt without clear aim or discrimination.

    • His investment strategy was a shot in the dark, showing total indiscrimination. (He invested without careful analysis.)