Indiscriminately

Indiscriminately is an adverb that describes actions performed without making distinctions among people or things, or without regard to differences in quality, category, or need. It characterizes processes that are broad, nonselective, or random, rather than carefully targeted or planned.

Etymology and form: The word is derived from indiscriminate, formed from the prefix in- meaning “not” and discriminate meaning “to distinguish.” The adverbial form is created by adding the suffix -ly. The term has been in use in English since the late 18th century and is commonly employed in both descriptive and evaluative contexts.

Usage and nuances: Indiscriminately is frequently used to critique actions seen as lacking discernment, fairness, or purpose. It can describe distributions, selections, or applications that apply equally to all cases without regard to relevance or need. In neutral contexts, it may simply describe nonselective processes, such as data collection or resource allocation. In more critical or descriptive writing, it often signals a negative judgment about efficiency, ethics, or strategy. Collocations include “distribute indiscriminately,” “attack indiscriminately,” and “shoot indiscriminately,” though the latter is typically encountered in discussions of violence and policy.

See also: indiscriminate, discrimination, selectivity. Overall, indiscriminately emphasizes the absence of deliberate filtering or distinguishing in behavior, policy, or procedure, making it a useful descriptor across a range of disciplines from journalism to social science.