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Definition of haphazardly

haphazardly

/ˌhæpˈhæz.ɚd.li/
hap · haz · ard · ly
Adjective:haphazard
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haphazardly Lexical Profile

haphazardly Game Scores & Validity

• adverb

1

In a manner lacking any obvious principle of organization, plan, or order; randomly or carelessly.

Example

"The books were stacked haphazardly on the desk, making it difficult to find the reference manual."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

hanover
hapax
haphazard
haphazardly
hapless
haplessly
happen

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed from the adjective 'haphazard' plus the adverbial suffix '-ly'. 'Haphazard' emerged in the late 16th century as a reduplicative compound combining Middle English 'hap' (from Old Norse 'happ', meaning 'chance' or 'good luck') and 'hazard' (from Old French 'hasard', ultimately from Arabic 'az-zahr', meaning 'gaming die').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Haphazardly. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/haphazardly
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