haphazard
Lacking any plan
Haphazard describes something done without plan or order, governed by chance rather than design.
A haphazard arrangement looks thrown together.
A haphazard approach lacks method: Books were shelved haphazardly, with no system anyone could discern.
The word suggests carelessness or randomness, though not necessarily with negative results—sometimes haphazard efforts stumble onto success.
Totally without arrangement
- disorderlyNot arranged neatly
- messyLacking order or neatness
- clutteredCrowded with disorder
- jumbledDisordered, lacking arrangement
scattered · disarray · muddled · disheveled · untidy · tangled · shambolic · sloppy
Based on personal whim
- chanceLikelihood of occurrence
- indiscriminateLacking selective judgment
- aimlessHaving no direction
- directionlessWithout aim or guidance
unplanned · unsystematic · hit-or-miss · willy-nilly · erratic · unpredictable · patternless · orderless
Failing in due care
- slapdashHasty and careless
- slipshodCareless and hasty
- sloppyCareless and untidy
- thoughtlessShowing no consideration
reckless · heedless · inattentive · lackadaisical · lax · remiss · perfunctory · cavalier
Occurring at irregular intervals
- irregularDeviating from normal patterns
- erraticLacking regularity or consistency
- fitfulIrregular and spasmodic
- spasmodicOccurring in irregular bursts
scattered · patchy · uneven · inconsistent · episodic · occasional · infrequent · on-and-off
Without advance preparation
- improvisedCreated without prior planning
- spontaneousArising without external cause
- ad-hocFor a specific purpose
- unpremeditatedWithout advance planning
extemporaneous · offhand · spur-of-the-moment · unrehearsed · unscripted · makeshift · thrown-together · last-minute
chaotic
Totally without arrangement
- disorderlyNot arranged neatly
- messyLacking order or neatness
- clutteredCrowded with disorder
jumbled · scattered · disarray · muddled · disheveled · untidy · tangled · shambolic · sloppy · slipshod
arbitrary
Based on personal whim
- chanceLikelihood of occurrence
- indiscriminateLacking selective judgment
- aimlessHaving no direction
directionless · unplanned · unsystematic · hit-or-miss · willy-nilly · erratic · unpredictable · patternless · orderless · unstructured
negligent
Failing in due care
thoughtless · reckless · heedless · inattentive · lackadaisical · lax · remiss · perfunctory · cavalier · offhand
intermittent
Occurring at irregular intervals
- irregularDeviating from normal patterns
- erraticLacking regularity or consistency
- fitfulIrregular and spasmodic
spasmodic · scattered · patchy · uneven · inconsistent · episodic · occasional · infrequent · on-and-off · discontinuous
impromptu
Without advance preparation
- improvisedCreated without prior planning
- spontaneousArising without external cause
- ad-hocFor a specific purpose
unpremeditated · extemporaneous · offhand · spur-of-the-moment · unrehearsed · unscripted · makeshift · thrown-together · last-minute · unintended
- chancechance, luck, lottery, dice, randomness
- slapdashsloppy, hasty, rushed, careless, shoddy
- work traitshardworking, diligent, productive, efficient, lazy
- disorderedchaotic, disorganized, disordered, jumbled, messy
- improviseimprovise, make do, wing it, ad-lib, jury-rig
- unpredictableunpredictable, uncertain, unreliable, erratic, inconsistent
haphazardsystematic
Following ordered procedures
methodical · organized · orderly · structured · planned
haphazarddeliberate
Consciously chosen, not accidental
intentional · purposeful · designed · calculated · planned
haphazardcareful
Exercising caution and attention
meticulous · painstaking · precise · thorough · scrupulous