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Glite Dictionary
🔫 A shotgun 🎯 Unfocused method 🎯 Unfocused or broad
scattergun

scattergun

1 6.7
A way of trying many different things at once without a clear aim
  • noun
  • /ˈskætərˌɡʌn/
translation icon : enfoque disperso
  • The manager decided to abandon the scattergun strategy and focus on one specific marketing campaign.
  • scattergun approach

Examples

  • It cuts out the scattergun approach of "asking around" and sending your CV to a group that is simply too wide.

    Blog text (21)

  • TC have been careful to adopt and artful in executing an Alinskyite scattergun approach, which has unfortunately served their cause well.

    Blog text (15)

  • Using a scattergun method, the team tried multiple approaches at once to solve the complex problem.

  • His scattergun technique during interviews made it hard for him to impress potential employers.

Synonyms

shotgun approach
vsscattergun
1 6.5

A strategy that tries many different things at the same time

is broader and stresses lack of focus across many targets rather than simultaneity

How Focused

precision
  • Specialized
157 4.2
to direct
14 3.4
scattergun
1 6.7

Surface Forms

scattergun singular
scatterguns plural

Morphology

scattergun = scatter + gun (semi-transparent) = scatter + gun

The compound literally suggests a gun that scatters its shot, but the sense of an unfocused strategy is a figurative extension rather than a fully literal one.

Etymology

Scattergun comes from scatter ('to spread') and gun ('firearm'). A helpful image is a gun that scatters many pellets, so a scattergun approach means trying many different things at once instead of aiming at one clear target.