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
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2
as in randomly
without definite aim, direction, rule, or method
goods arranged helter-skelter on the shelves of the variety store
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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
-
Go and read random slave narratives and get their experience of the time.—
David Marchese,
New York Times,
18 Jan. 2025
-
Oh, the third mode is a combination of both – sets of airbags inflate and deflate in seemingly random order – which has been perhaps my favorite setting.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
18 Jan. 2025
Adverb
-
While the rest of the globe frantically fetishized growth targets, Bhutan shunned opportunities to monetize its considerable natural resources—including lumber, coal, and minerals—that would have come at the expense of the environment.—
By Charlie Campbell/Gelephu, Bhutan,
TIME,
16 Jan. 2025
-
In a 911 call recording played at the press conference, a woman is heard frantically asking for help.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
People.com,
15 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Later, during a briefing from Zelia Baugh, executive vice-president of behavior health at John Peter Smith Hospital, a commotion could be heard in the lobby outside the court.—
Cody Copeland,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Jan. 2025
-
Gregory hears the commotion and tries to keep the Philly girls from pouncing.—
Ile-Ife Okantah,
Vulture,
8 Jan. 2025
Adverb
-
The Supreme Court on Friday unanimously upheld the law ordering ByteDance to sell its wildly popular app, making TikTok's removal from app stores by Sunday all but certain.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
17 Jan. 2025
-
If the main trunk of the jade has gotten wildly overgrown and is flopping over under its own weight, lop it off.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Grant gets off the ball in a hurry and finds a healthy balance between playing laterally and downhill.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 Jan. 2025
-
Keep their necessities together, in a spot where they can be reached in a hurry.—
Donna Vickroy,
Chicago Tribune,
17 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
-
To Danes and pretty much anyone else who makes plans, signs treaties, or creates long-term strategies using rational arguments, this way of making policy feels arbitrary, pointless, even surreal.—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
18 Jan. 2025
-
Proposals to provide striking workers with unemployment benefits and set arbitrary regulations for warehouse workers threaten Connecticut’s economic future.—
Frank Ricci,
National Review,
17 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 31 Jan. 2025.
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