HIT-AND-MISS Synonyms: 76 Similar and Opposite Words

hit-and-miss

adjective

Definition of hit-and-miss

as in haphazard

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of hit-and-miss Drew Allar, Penn State Allar has prototypical size, tantalizing arm strength and… well, hit-and-miss production. — Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 8 Apr. 2026 Alabama transfer Isaiah Bond was more hit-and-miss, and Oregon State’s Silas Bolden had little impact other than letting punts bounce for extra yards time after time. — Kirk Bohls, Houston Chronicle, 9 Mar. 2026 But overall, styling is hit-and-miss on this one in my humble opinion. — New Atlas, 4 Mar. 2026 And to say its fusillade of jokes is hit-and-miss would also be a charitable take. — Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hit-and-miss

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hit-and-miss

Adjective

Violent crime, once almost unknown on the island, is rising sharply—another sign of the state’s haphazard retreat.

— Will Freeman, Foreign Affairs, 17 Sep. 2026
With no clear guidance, haphazard and improvised efforts by companies to clean the homes left 6 in 10 residences still unsafe.

— Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of haphazard

Adjective

Instead of projecting random stars, the Pococo Galaxy Projector uses projection discs to fill the room with gorgeous, sharp images of planets, galaxies and much more.

— Chris McMullen, Space.com, 7 Oct. 2026
After posting a picture on a random rock in the Turkish highlands on Instagram, Salah has transformed the spot into a tourist attraction, with droves of fans making the pilgrimage.

— Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of random

Adjective

The extra software gimmicks, however, remain a bit hit-or-miss.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 22 Sep. 2026
The problem is that those splash plays and big weeks usually happen on fantasy benches because Shaheed is far too hit-or-miss (or miss or miss) to be counted on as more than a desperation play.

— Gary Davenport, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of hit-or-miss

Adjective

More scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected on Wednesday afternoon.

— CBS News, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026
The scattered pieces of the former storm will likely drift over the Caribbean and soak Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Hispaniola with a few inches of rain, some of which will reach Florida.

— Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of scattered

Adjective

The film deals with an urban legend that a Nevada reservoir is a time portal, and the aimless group of teenage best friends who become obsessed with going back in history.

— Brent Lang, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2026
Youth sports, once the redoubt of aimless childhood play, have become hopelessly commercialized.

— Nora Kenney Mittiga, Washington Post, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of aimless

Adjective

Sixty or so people formed a desultory circle in front of the birds or slumped on bleachers hung with a banner that read the world is watching.

— J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
Can anything more than the most desultory gesture at a novel emerge while these questions go unanswered?

— Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of desultory

Adjective

Its rules about transfers and conference membership seem arbitrary and deferential to the Southeastern and Big Ten conferences, college football's most influential.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
Rights and media freedom groups have separately warned of police violence, arbitrary detentions, unauthorized surveillance and threats against journalists.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of arbitrary

Adjective

Valdes, who was turning 28, was killed by a stray bullet fired by police in the early morning hours of June 14, 2025, outside a Wynwood nightclub.

— Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026
The boy who was paralyzed was about a block and a half from where the shooting erupted and was unlocking a Lime scooter when the stray bullet hit him, according to the court documents.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of stray

Browse Nearby Words

hit

hit-and-miss

hit-and-run

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Hit-and-miss.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hit-and-miss. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of hit-and-miss

adjective

Example Sentences

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