desultory

desultory
adjective
des·;ul·;to·;ry ;de-s;l-;t;r-;  -z;l-; di-;s;l-t(;-)r;, -;z;l-
Synonyms of desultory
1
: marked by lack of definite plan, regularity, or purpose
a dragged-out ordeal of … desultory shopping
—Herman Wouk
2
: not connected with the main subject
desultory comments
3
: disappointing in progress, performance, or quality
a desultory fifth place finish
a desultory wine
desultorily
;de-s;l-;t;r-;-l;
 adverb
desultoriness
;de-s;l-;t;r-;-n;s
 noun


Did you know?
The Latin adjective desultorius was used by the ancient Romans to describe a circus performer (called a desultor) whose trick was to leap from horse to horse without stopping. English speakers took the idea of the desultorius performer and coined the word desultory to describe that which figuratively “jumps” from one thing to another, without regularity, and showing no sign of a plan or purpose. (Both desultor and desultorius, by the way, come from the Latin verb salire, meaning “to leap.”) A desultory conversation leaps from one topic to another, and a desultory comment is one that jumps away from the topic at hand. Meanwhile a desultory performance is one resulting from an implied lack of steady, focused effort.

Synonyms
random
scattered
arbitrary
erratic
Examples of desultory in a Sentence
a desultory search for something of interest on TV
a desultory discussion about the news of the day
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Stanley Cup-holding Florida Panthers got there with Friday night’s desultory 2-0 home loss to the Maple Leafs to put their second round series at 3-3.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 18 May 2025
The desultory attention to regional conditions compromises the book’s conclusions and recommendations.
—Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2019
Yet, the Raptors haven’t made the playoffs in the desultory East since 2022, when Philadelphia dispatched them in the first round.
—David Aldridge, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
Although the United States and its allies could deal with such ripostes, there would be no obvious military strategy to bring even a desultory exchange of strikes and counterstrikes to an end.
—Barry R. Posen, Foreign Affairs, 7 Sep. 2010

Word History
Etymology
Latin desultorius, literally, of a circus rider who leaps from horse to horse, from desilire to leap down, from de- + salire to leap — more at sally

First Known Use
1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of desultory was in 1581
See more words from the same year