Which word describes a plan or action that moves from topic to topic without a fixed purpose?

• A. Desultory
• B. Dilettante
• C. Diffident
• D. Disabuse

Answer: (A)

Desultory describes something that has no fixed plan or purpose and tends to wander from one topic to another. It comes from a Latin word meaning “jumping from one thing to another,” which captures the sense of aimless, haphazard movement. So a plan or action that moves from topic to topic without a fixed purpose is desultory.

Dilettante refers to someone who dabbles superficially in a field without real commitment; diffident means shy or lacking self-confidence; disabuse means to free someone from a false belief. None of these convey the sense of wandering or lack of aim that desultory does.