hell-bent

adjective

ˈhel-ˌbent 

: stubbornly and often recklessly determined or intent

hell-bent on winning

hell-bent adverb

Synonyms

• bent (on or upon)
• bound
• decisive
• determined
• do-or-die
• firm
• intent
• out
• purposeful
• resolute
• resolved
• set
• single-minded

Examples of hell-bent in a Sentence

she's hell-bent on a career in show business and heaven help anyone who gets in her way

Recent Examples on the Web

Indeed, some Israelis are hell-bent on something worse than Trump’s deal of the century. —Raja Khalidi, Foreign Affairs, 20 Jan. 2025

The first of them holds all of the story’s promise, as a tense prologue introduces us to a pre-teen kid named Blake, whose military-like father (Sam Jaeger, all menacing toxic machismo) is hell-bent upon teaching his son how to survive the world on his own. —David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 15 Jan. 2025

Lucia is just out of jail in Leonida, a fictional stand-in for Florida, and is hell-bent on enjoying her newfound freedom. —Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 8 Jan. 2025

Since last season ended with a thud in the Peach Bowl, Marques Hagans was hell-bent on ensuring his receivers wouldn’t be the team’s weak link again. —Audrey Snyder, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1731, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

hell-bent

adjective

-ˌbent

: stubbornly and often recklessly determined

hell-bent on revenge