indiscriminately
UK: ˌɪn.dɪˈskrɪm.ɪ.nət.li | US: ˌɪn.dɪˈskrɪm.ə.nət.li
adv. without careful judgment or distinction; randomly or haphazardly
adv. in a way that includes all things or people without exception
indiscriminately = in<not> + discriminate<distinguish> + ly<adverb suffix>
- in: Latin prefix meaning "not" or "opposite of."
- discriminate: From Latin discriminare ("to divide, distinguish"), derived from discrimen ("distinction"). The root crimin relates to separation or judgment.
- ly: Old English adverbial suffix indicating manner or quality.
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Latin discriminare, which emphasized the act of separating or distinguishing. The negative prefix in flips the meaning to "without distinction." Over time, discriminate evolved in English to mean "to differentiate," while indiscriminate (and its adverb form) gained the sense of "lacking selectivity." The logical progression reflects a shift from deliberate separation to unchecked inclusion or randomness.
The bombs were dropped indiscriminately, harming civilians and soldiers alike.
She donated money indiscriminately to every charity that approached her.
The virus spreads indiscriminately, affecting people of all ages.
He criticized the media for reporting news indiscriminately without verifying facts.
The teacher graded papers indiscriminately, ignoring individual effort.