Which term describes the act of combining different elements indiscriminately?

The term that describes the act of combining different elements indiscriminately is "conflate." When something is conflate, it indicates that distinct ideas, concepts, or elements are merged together without careful consideration of their differences or unique characteristics. This can lead to confusion or a loss of clarity, as the nuances of each element may be overlooked in the process of merging. For example, when two different theories are conflate, their individual merits and correspondences might be lost, resulting in a misinterpretation of both.

The other terms do not convey the same meaning: "vestige" refers to a remnant or trace of something that no longer exists; "accolade" signifies an award or privilege granted as a special honor; and "virulent" typically describes something that is extremely harmful or hostile, often used in a context involving diseases or aggressive attitudes. Each of these words focuses on different concepts rather than the indiscriminate combining of elements that "conflate" captures.