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

But Hoyer has been hell-bent this winter to make sure a lack of relief depth won’t be an issue in 2025. —Sahadev Sharma, The Athletic, 5 Feb. 2025

Since President Donald Trump took office, his administration been hell-bent on striking fear into the heart of America’s immigrant communities. —Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 30 Jan. 2025

Inside the Auschwitz concentration camp complex, the soldiers liberated roughly 7,000 prisoners who had been brutalized by a Nazi regime hell-bent on exterminating the Jewish people. —Jesse Kirsch, NBC News, 27 Jan. 2025

The schedule is demanding, but Shiu, who is 63 years old and has been dancing for almost 50 years, is hell-bent on continuing to lead and train with the West Coast team. —Stephanie Lam, The Mercury News, 27 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