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
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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
Nolan Finley, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2025
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
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
The president’s approach to tariffs illustrates how his helter-skelter mind works.
—Nolan Finley, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for helter-skelter
Adjective
-
While some treasure hoards dating to this period appear hurried — as if someone was trying to hide their wealth in a moment of crisis, for example — the Galloway Hoard looks different.—
Joshua Rapp Learn,
Discover Magazine,
15 Mar. 2025
-
What’s next? Republicans managed to pass a hurried, stopgap spending bill on March 14, 2025 only by the skin of their teeth.—
Charlie Hunt,
The Conversation,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Cherry rues the random nature of these instances of trauma, which explode only to be forgotten five minutes later, subsumed beneath the next crisis.—
Sam Worley,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2025
-
Choosing a random cabin location Choose your cabin location with careful consideration and a strategic approach.—
Kaitlyn McInnis,
Forbes,
18 Mar. 2025
Adverb
-
Rally-goers were seen in footage on social media dispersing frantically during a 15-minute silence that was being observed during the protest.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
17 Mar. 2025
-
Every year around this time, as college basketball casuals start frantically Googling for Cinderellas, bracket breakdown marathons blanket TV airwaves and CBS’ Seth Davis predicts his fourth double-digit seed to advance to the Sweet 16, an upset favorite begins to emerge.—
Kels Dayton,
Hartford Courant,
17 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Naturally, this means that even something as small as a new shade of Pocket Blush is bound to cause tons of commotion—and spoiler alert, that’s exactly what happened after Hailey’s recent date night routine.—
Kleigh Balugo,
StyleCaster,
12 Mar. 2025
-
Pilots heard the commotion and turned the flight around back to Savannah, police said.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
12 Mar. 2025
Adverb
-
For a brief history lesson, Pebble skyrocketed to fame in 2012 through a wildly successful Kickstarter campaign.—
Julian Chokkattu,
WIRED,
18 Mar. 2025
-
In my second at-bat, my team cheered wildly for me on every pitch.—
Kaitlyn Tiffany,
The Atlantic,
17 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Without a truly dominant interior presence, this is what can separate the Huskies in a hurry.—
Chantel Jennings,
The Athletic,
17 Mar. 2025
-
On the other hand, Walter Clayton Jr. is equally as capable of putting up points in a hurry.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
16 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
This endless, headlong energy can produce a caffeinated buzz that rises to the brain on little prickling bubbles of enjoyment.—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
26 Mar. 2025
-
Their headlong rise has mirrored that of the men’s team, and opened a pathway for girls and young women to play.—
George Caulkin,
The Athletic,
22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The user is urged to visit a website and pay an arbitrary toll amount to avoid a $50 fine.—
Dan Avery,
CNBC,
17 Mar. 2025
-
His morning rants and arbitrary policies only harm the economy.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
16 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Helter-skelter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/helter-skelter. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.
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