1
as in hurried
acting or done with excessive or careless speed
a bill that was pushed through committee in a last-minute helter-skelter burst of legislative activity
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in random
lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern
papers, books, and unopened mail were stacked helter-skelter on the desk
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in frantically
in a confused and reckless manner
the sheep ran helter-skelter inside their pen when the coyote appeared in their midst
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in randomly
without definite aim, direction, rule, or method
goods arranged helter-skelter on the shelves of the variety store
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity
in the helter-skelter at the amusement park the child got separated from his parents
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of helter-skelter
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
Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2025
Somehow, with their final timeout unused, the Bears let the game’s final 32 seconds tick away with only one snap being taken — a helter-skelter, audibled deep shot from Williams to Rome Odunze that fell incomplete as time expired.
—Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 4 Dec. 2024
And how did the home crowd react to their new manager after the often helter-skelter performances of Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp?
—Gregg Evans, The Athletic, 25 Aug. 2024
The top row is fairly straight, just without the unnatural white hue of a modern Marvel star; the bottom row goes helter-skelter.
—Joel Kim Booster, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2024
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
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
Adverb
With their helter-skelter, pressing style, the Grizzlies are a balanced team.
—Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2025
Somehow, with their final timeout unused, the Bears let the game’s final 32 seconds tick away with only one snap being taken — a helter-skelter, audibled deep shot from Williams to Rome Odunze that fell incomplete as time expired.
—Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 4 Dec. 2024
And how did the home crowd react to their new manager after the often helter-skelter performances of Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp?
—Gregg Evans, The Athletic, 25 Aug. 2024
The top row is fairly straight, just without the unnatural white hue of a modern Marvel star; the bottom row goes helter-skelter.
—Joel Kim Booster, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2024
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for helter-skelter
Adjective
-
Overhead, a pair of firefighting helicopters circled in constant, hurried laps between the lake and the burning hillsides.—
Wally Skalij,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2025
-
He’s got quick crossover acceleration with a hurried stride that cranks its way up ice to give him good speed.—
Scott Wheeler,
The Athletic,
16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The robot learns in a virtual environment, earning higher scores for better stacking performance with random items.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
Fox News,
30 Jan. 2025
-
On a random note: Long before those assignments, Chuck was pepper-sprayed covering the disturbances in Miami the morning Elián Gonzalez was whisked away by federal authorities.—
Charles Rabin,
Miami Herald,
30 Jan. 2025
Adverb
-
Jeopardy/Instagram) Goins put his hand to his head while frantically trying to think, but was unable to come up with an answer.—
Brie Stimson,
Fox News,
28 Jan. 2025
-
Karen declared open conflict with Mia and Jacqueline, laying out all the inconsistencies in Mia’s storytelling that leave the group frustrated while Ashley was in the back hallway frantically turning her Anastasia Beverly Hills contour stick into a semblance of five-o’-clock shadow.—
Shamira Ibrahim,
Vulture,
27 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Ubisoft’s assassins lurk in the shadows and try to kill without commotion while ninjas in popular culture have the same MO.—
Gieson Cacho,
The Mercury News,
24 Jan. 2025
-
Protests erupted during the hearing, starting with a woman in military camo whose words were inaudible amid the commotion.—
Amanda Castro,
Newsweek,
14 Jan. 2025
Adverb
-
But as has been the case with arguably the top remaining free agent on the open market throughout the winter, this situation still feels wildly fluid.—
Jonathan Granoff,
Newsweek,
29 Jan. 2025
-
Dowdle even said that spring that the Florida Marlins had hurt the game by spending wildly in the winter of 1996-97, winning a World Series and then selling off most of their stars.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Best Gradual Lotion: Jergens Natural Glow Self Tanner Lotion Courtesy of brand Jergens Natural Glow Self Tanner Lotion $12 $10 Amazon $10 Target $13 Walgreens Original video by Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle In a hurry and need something to give you some color ASAP?—
Danielle Sinay,
Glamour,
29 Jan. 2025
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The quickest way to get worse in a hurry — beyond playing power forward Patrick Williams even more minutes than head coach Billy Donovan already allocates — is for Chicago to trade some of its best players for future draft assets.—
Joel Thayer,
Newsweek,
26 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The issue is whether the briskly growing services sector and headlong AI-investment buildout can bolster aggregate growth rates in a way that doesn’t bring additional stress on the housing and goods-producing sectors.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
11 Jan. 2025
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Venu responded to the challenges of launching a new sports streamer with headlong momentum, landing former Apple exec Pete Distad to serve as CEO last March before setting a launch target and an opening subscription rate of $42.99 per month.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Right-wing people choosing to pick on LGBTQ folks was almost arbitrary.—
Tessa Stuart,
Rolling Stone,
24 Jan. 2025
-
The energy is used not to create goods or services but to solve arbitrary puzzles that sustain speculative networks.—
Eric Solis,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Helter-skelter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/helter-skelter. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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