What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
indiscriminate
Example
The indiscriminate use of pesticides has led to environmental damage. [indiscriminate: adjective]
Example
The shooter fired indiscriminately into the crowd, hitting innocent bystanders. [indiscriminately: adverb]
random
Example
I picked a random number between one and ten. [random: adjective]
Example
The selection process was completely random, with no bias towards any particular candidate. [random: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Random is more commonly used than indiscriminate in everyday language. Random is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while indiscriminate is less common and is typically associated with more formal or academic language.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between indiscriminate and random?
Indiscriminate is typically associated with a more formal or academic tone, while random is more versatile and can be employed in both formal and informal contexts.