English Reference
Adverb

indiscriminately

adv.
C1 Advanced US /ˌɪndɪsˈkɹɪmənətˌɫi/ UK /ˌɪndɪskɹˈɪmɪnətli/ in·dis·crim·i·nate·ly

adv.without thinking about who or what you are affecting. You use this when someone acts in a way that is unfair or dangerous to everyone.

adv.without regard to differences or distinctions; in a way that is not selective or fair.


SIMPLE

The fire spread indiscriminately through the dry forest.

CONTEXTUAL

The company was criticized for indiscriminately firing employees without providing any reason for the layoffs.

COMPLEX

The policy was condemned for its indiscriminate application, as it punished small businesses alongside large corporations that had actually followed the regulations.

In those animals, the clustered engram synapses were destroyed indiscriminately—just like every other synapse.

Ars Technica· 22 Aug 2026

They were inefficient, generated excessive heat, and scattered light somewhat indiscriminately.

Ars Technica· 3 Aug 2026

From indiscriminate + -ly.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated