indiscriminate

/ɪn.dɪsˈkɹɪm.ɪn.ət/

Group 8Difficulty 1/3

Definition

(adjective)
Done at random or without careful judgment
GRE

Example in Context

The indiscriminate shelling of civilian areas drew condemnation from international observers who demanded an immediate ceasefire.

Synonyms

randomcarelesswholesale

Etymology

Not distinguishing; doing things randomly without care.

  • in- (Latin) — not
  • discrimen (Latin) — distinction

Memory Aid

🎲Sounds like “in this crement

Imagine a giant throwing dice IN THIS CREMENT, making all choices randomly — everything is INDISCRIMINATE!

Visual Association

🎉A party where everyone randomly throws confetti everywhere, no one cares about the mess!

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “indiscriminate” mean on the GRE?

indiscriminate (adjective) means “Done at random or without careful judgment”. The indiscriminate shelling of civilian areas drew condemnation from international observers who demanded an immediate ceasefire.

How to remember “indiscriminate” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “indiscriminate” sounds like “in this crement”. Imagine a giant throwing dice IN THIS CREMENT, making all choices randomly — everything is INDISCRIMINATE!

What are synonyms for “indiscriminate”?

Common synonyms: random, careless, wholesale.