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GRE vocabulary

desultory

adjectiveHigh-frequency wordMore D words

lacking a plan or purpose; moving randomly from one thing to another

Word origin: From Latin desultorius, relating to a circus rider who leaps between horses.

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In a sentence

Desultory in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing desultory in a sentence.

Their desultory conversation drifted from topic to topic without resolution.

The committee's desultory discussion wandered from budgets to logos without ever settling on an agenda.

Synonyms
aimlesshaphazardrandom
Antonyms
methodicalsystematicfocused

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Verbal · Sentence Equivalence

The treaty was hailed as a triumph of diplomacy, yet historians now regard its terms as blank, since they merely postponed the conflicts they claimed to resolve.

Select the two answers that give the sentence the same meaning. 0 of 2 selected.

Usage & nuance

Using “desultory” well

Desultory describes activity that lacks plan or persistence, jumping from one thing to another, pairing with aimless and haphazard. It implies a want of method rather than a want of effort.

Common questions

Questions about “desultory”

Desultory (adjective) means lacking a plan or purpose; moving randomly from one thing to another
Here is desultory used in an example sentence: "Their desultory conversation drifted from topic to topic without resolution." Another example: "The committee's desultory discussion wandered from budgets to logos without ever settling on an agenda."
Common synonyms for desultory include aimless, haphazard, random.
Antonyms of desultory include methodical, systematic, focused.
Clusters with aimless, haphazard, and random in Sentence Equivalence. Antonyms methodical, systematic, and focused describe orderly, directed activity.
Yes. Desultory is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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