Synonyms for

Random

Verb / ˈrændʌm / Another word for random — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

made, done, or happening without method or conscious decision

Synonyms & similar words

nonrandom haphazard arbitrary chance accidental unplanned unexpected unsuspected undirected aimless unsystematic hit-or-miss casual sporadic irregular occasional intermittent periodic episodic scattered disorganized

Synonyms by register

Formal

arbitrary haphazard unsystematic inconsequential

Informal

hit-or-miss all over the place no rhyme or reason whatever

Literary

chance fortuitous capricious

Antonyms

ordered systematic planned deliberate purposeful intentional predictable

Common collocations

  • random access
  • random order
  • random sample
  • random selection
  • random number
  • random act
  • random chance
  • random error

Word family

noun randomness
adverb randomly

Usage note

While 'random' is often used informally to mean 'unusual' or 'unexpected', its primary meaning relates to a lack of pattern or predictability. Avoid using it to describe something that is merely surprising.

Example sentences

  1. The teacher chose a random student to answer the question.
  2. The lottery winner was chosen by a random drawing.
  3. I like to take random walks and explore new places.
  4. The magician pulled a random card from the deck.
  5. The computer generated a random number for the game.

Quotes

  • Life is random and fucked up, and then you die.
  • The universe is random. It's not inevitable that we'll survive.
  • The universe is full of random events that are non-deterministic, unpredictable.

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