What does desultory mean?
Word: Desultory
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Desultory means done without a clear plan or much real interest, moving from one thing to another.
Synonyms: haphazard, half-hearted
Antonyms: focused
How do you spell desultory?
Syllables: des - ul - to - ry
Tricky part: The last part is said so quickly that pupils guess its vowel and write desultary or desultery. The ending is ory.
Watch out for: desultary, desultery
Memory tip: A desultory story wanders about, and the two words end the same way: tory.
Desultory in a sentence
Example 1: After lunch the class had a desultory chat about the weather until the teacher arrived.
Example 2: Julia flicked through the magazine in a desultory way, not really reading anything.
Example 3: The players took a few desultory shots at goal before the coach blew the whistle.
Fun Fact
The word comes from the Latin desultor, a circus rider who leapt from one galloping horse to another, much as a desultory talk leaps between topics.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word:
desultory
a) methodical
b) random
c) aimless
d) casual
Show answer
a) methodical. A methodical person works step by step with a plan, the reverse of a desultory one.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to form a word:
d_s_ltory
a) e, a
b) i, u
c) i, o
d) e, u
Show answer
d) e, u. The word opens with des, and the next vowel is the short u sound of cup.
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
lyrostued
a) dormitory
b) desultory
c) derogatory
d) depository
Show answer
b) desultory. The jumble has a u but no g, p, m or a, so only one of the words can be made from it.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the correctly spelt word:
a) desultory
b) consistant
c) purposefull
d) enthusiastick
Show answer
a) desultory. Consistent ends in ent, purposeful has a single l, and enthusiastic ends in a plain ic.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Rahul made a desultory attempt at his maths homework. How much effort did he put in?
a) exactly enough
b) more than anyone
c) very little
d) a great deal
Show answer
c) very little
2. Which word best describes a desultory conversation?
a) musical
b) rambling
c) serious
d) whispered
Show answer
b) rambling
