# indiscriminate

/ˌɪndɪsˈkɹɪmənət/ (US) · /ˌɪndɪskɹˈɪmɪnət/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/indiscriminate
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

not careful about who or what you choose to affect. You use this when someone acts without thinking about the consequences or the specific people involved.

For teachers: lacking discrimination or selectivity; acting without regard for consequences or specific targets. Often used to describe actions that cause unnecessary harm to innocent people or objects.

## Examples

- The heavy rain caused indiscriminate damage to the garden.
- The government faced criticism for its indiscriminate use of force during the operation.
- The spread of the virus was largely indiscriminate, affecting both the elderly and the young with equal severity and no regard for social status.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.