helter-skelter

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adverb

hel·​ter-skel·​ter ˌhel-tər-ˈskel-tər 

1

: in undue haste, confusion, or disorder

… ran helter-skelter, getting in each other's way.

—F. V. W. Mason

2

: in a haphazard manner

helter-skelter

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noun

1

: a disorderly confusion : turmoil

2

British : a spiral slide around a tower at an amusement park

helter-skelter

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adjective

1

: confusedly hurried : precipitate

a helter-skelter dash for the gate

2

: marked by a lack of order or plan : haphazard

… the helter-skelter arrangement of the papers, all mussed and frayed …

—Jean Stafford

Synonyms of helter-skelter

Adverb

• frantically
• wildly
• wild

Noun

• commotion
• hurry
• disturbance
• stir
• turmoil
• fuss
• clatter
• racket

Adjective

• hurried
• rushed
• headlong
• impulsive
• hasty
• sudden
• reckless
• rash
• makeshift

Examples of helter-skelter in a Sentence

Adverb

the sheep ran helter-skelter inside their pen when the coyote appeared in their midst

goods arranged helter-skelter on the shelves of the variety store

Noun

in the helter-skelter at the amusement park the child got separated from his parents

Adjective

a bill that was pushed through committee in a last-minute helter-skelter burst of legislative activity

papers, books, and unopened mail were stacked helter-skelter on the desk

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

Amazon may not be worth as much as Anthropic soon because one is focused and the other is helter-skelter. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 8 Feb. 2026

On a day when the Valkyries were stuck in neutral, her helter-skelter play-style and willingness to bomb away from deep was one of the team’s few bright spots. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 28 July 2025

Adjective

The helter-skelter run down the line. — Tony Baranek, Chicago Tribune, 22 Apr. 2026

The opening quarter-hour produced a fast but helter-skelter showing. — The Enquirer, 25 Feb. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

perhaps from Middle English skelten to come, go

First Known Use

Adverb

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1713, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1708, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for helter-skelter

• belter
• melter
• shelter
• skelter
• smelter
• spelter
• welter

Kids Definition

helter-skelter

adverb

hel·​ter-skel·​ter

ˌhel-tər-ˈskel-tər

1

: in a confused and reckless manner : pell-mell

ran helter-skelter down the hill

2

: in no particular order : haphazardly

clothes strewn helter-skelter about the room

helter-skelter adjective