hel·ter-skel·ter
ˌhel-tər-ˈskel-tər 
1
: in undue haste, confusion, or disorder
ran helter-skelter, getting in each other's way—
F. V. W. Mason
F. V. W. Mason2
: in a haphazard manner
1
: a disorderly confusion : turmoil
2
British
: a spiral slide around a tower at an amusement park
1
: confusedly hurried : precipitate
2
: marked by a lack of order or plan : haphazard
the helter-skelter arrangement of the papers, all mussed and frayed—Jean Stafford
Jean StaffordSynonyms
Adverb
- amok
- amuck
- berserk
- berserkly
- frantically
- frenetically
- frenziedly
- harum-scarum
- hectically
- madly
- pell-mell
- wild
- wildly
Noun
- ado
- alarums and excursions
- ballyhoo
- blather
- bluster
- bobbery
- bother
- bustle
- clatter
- clutter [chiefly dialect]
- coil
- commotion
- corroboree [Australian]
- disturbance
- do [chiefly dialect]
- foofaraw
- fun
- furor
- furore
- fuss
- hoo-ha
- hoo-hah
- hoopla
- hubble-bubble
- hubbub
- hullabaloo
- hurly
- hurly-burly
- hurricane
- hurry
- hurry-scurry
- hurry-skurry
- kerfuffle [chiefly British]
- moil
- pandemonium
- pother
- row
- ruckus
- ruction
- rumpus
- shindy
- splore [Scottish]
- squall
- stew
- stir
- storm
- to-do
- tumult
- turmoil
- uproar
- welter
- whirl
- williwaw
- zoo
Adjective
Examples of helter-skelter in a Sentence
Adverb
the sheep ran helter-skelter inside their pen when the coyote appeared in their midst
goods arranged helter-skelter on the shelves of the variety store
Noun
in the helter-skelter at the amusement park the child got separated from his parents
Adjective
a bill that was pushed through committee in a last-minute helter-skelter burst of legislative activity
papers, books, and unopened mail were stacked helter-skelter on the desk
Recent Examples on the WebBenjamin Svetkey, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Oct. 2024
Sometime late last week, spray-paint-wielding intruders turned the pink walls of this seven-bedroom mansion into a helter-skelter canvas of pop art, obscure quotations and political insinuations — the third hillside home in Los Angeles to be defaced in recent days.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2024
The helter-skelter Draft Day trades that netted the Warriors Post with the 52nd pick is not yet finalized.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 30 June 2024
With Spectrum Center closed for renovations, the Hornets have been displaced somewhat, making things helter-skelter.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 26 June 2024
The Generals fed off each other with the helter-skelter defense.
—Craig J. Clary, Baltimore Sun, 1 Mar. 2024
In the contemporary, helter-skelter sweep of Mexico City, there is one place — in the southern borough of Xochimilco — where a vision of a watery, pre-Columbian capital may still be imagined.
—Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024
The helter-skelter start has the Warriors (27-26) emerging from the All-Star break in 10th place in the West at .500.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2024
Or, a helter-skelter museum dedicated to beer and Bigfoot.
—The Courier-Journal, 16 Feb. 2024
The Enquirer, 25 Feb. 2023
After a helter-skelter start, Mr. Vovk and his top managers reorganized.
—Patricia Cohen, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2023
Adverb
Manson’s Granddaughter Gets Her Day in Court Charles Manson died in prison in 2017, but his offspring continue to stir up helter-skelter in California’s courts.
—Benjamin Svetkey, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Oct. 2024
Sometime late last week, spray-paint-wielding intruders turned the pink walls of this seven-bedroom mansion into a helter-skelter canvas of pop art, obscure quotations and political insinuations — the third hillside home in Los Angeles to be defaced in recent days.
—James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2024
The helter-skelter Draft Day trades that netted the Warriors Post with the 52nd pick is not yet finalized.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 30 June 2024
With Spectrum Center closed for renovations, the Hornets have been displaced somewhat, making things helter-skelter.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 26 June 2024
The Generals fed off each other with the helter-skelter defense.
—Craig J. Clary, Baltimore Sun, 1 Mar. 2024
In the contemporary, helter-skelter sweep of Mexico City, there is one place — in the southern borough of Xochimilco — where a vision of a watery, pre-Columbian capital may still be imagined.
—Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024
The helter-skelter start has the Warriors (27-26) emerging from the All-Star break in 10th place in the West at .500.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2024
Or, a helter-skelter museum dedicated to beer and Bigfoot.
—The Courier-Journal, 16 Feb. 2024
Adjective
The opening quarter-hour produced a fast but helter-skelter showing.
—The Enquirer, 25 Feb. 2023
After a helter-skelter start, Mr. Vovk and his top managers reorganized.
—Patricia Cohen, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'helter-skelter.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Helter-skelter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/helter-skelter. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
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