desultory
Lacking clear purpose
Desultory describes something that lacks plan, purpose, or continuity—jumping from one thing to another without connection.
A desultory conversation wanders aimlessly.
Desultory efforts are half-hearted and unfocused.
The word suggests randomness and lack of commitment: After a few desultory attempts at cleaning, she gave up and watched TV.
Casually unrehearsed
- cursoryHasty and incomplete
- superficialLacking depth or substance
- perfunctoryDone with minimal effort
- nonchalantCalmly unconcerned
indifferent · careless · lackadaisical · haphazard · slipshod · slapdash · negligent · unconcerned
Lacking regularity or consistency
- unevenNot smooth or balanced
- irregularDeviating from normal patterns
- patchyIrregular in coverage
- spottyIrregular and unreliable
fitful · variable · fluctuating · unreliable · inconstant · unstable · discontinuous · choppy
Lacking aim or intention
- directionlessWithout aim or guidance
- unfocusedWithout clear direction
- wanderingTraveling with no fixed course
- driftingMoving without purpose
listless · adrift · rudderless · unmotivated · vague · idle · halfhearted · uncommitted
Following a winding course
- digressiveTending to stray topically
- unfocusedWithout clear direction
- tangentialBarely connected to main point
- disjointedLacking orderly sequence
scattered · disconnected · incoherent · unstructured · wandering · circuitous · discursive · jumbled
Occurring at irregular intervals
- infrequentHappening only occasionally
- occasionalHappening at intervals
- periodicOccurring at intervals
- episodicOccurring in distinct segments
scattered · isolated · fragmentary · spasmodic · on-and-off · rare · seldom · staccato
offhand
Casually unrehearsed
- cursoryHasty and incomplete
- superficialLacking depth or substance
- perfunctoryDone with minimal effort
nonchalant · indifferent · careless · lackadaisical · haphazard · slipshod · slapdash · negligent · unconcerned · dismissive
erratic
Lacking regularity or consistency
spotty · fitful · variable · fluctuating · unreliable · inconstant · unstable · discontinuous · choppy · hit-or-miss
purposeless
Lacking aim or intention
- directionlessWithout aim or guidance
- unfocusedWithout clear direction
- wanderingTraveling with no fixed course
drifting · listless · adrift · rudderless · unmotivated · vague · idle · halfhearted · uncommitted · indifferent
meandering
Following a winding course
- digressiveTending to stray topically
- unfocusedWithout clear direction
- tangentialBarely connected to main point
disjointed · scattered · disconnected · incoherent · unstructured · wandering · circuitous · discursive · jumbled · loose
intermittent
Occurring at irregular intervals
- infrequentHappening only occasionally
- occasionalHappening at intervals
- periodicOccurring at intervals
episodic · scattered · isolated · fragmentary · spasmodic · on-and-off · rare · seldom · staccato · sparse
- circumlocutioncircumlocution, indirection, indirectness, roundabout, roundaboutness
desultorysystematic
Following ordered procedures
methodical · organized · orderly · structured · logical
desultoryfocused
Directing attention narrowly
purposeful · concentrated · intent · dedicated · determined
desultorysteady
Fixed, not fluctuating
consistent · sustained · continuous · persistent · regular