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

3 of 3

adjective

1

: confusedly hurried : precipitate

2

: marked by a lack of order or plan : haphazard

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

—Jean Stafford

Synonyms

Adverb

• amok
• amuck
• berserk
• berserkly
• frantically
• frenetically
• frenziedly
• harum-scarum
• hectically
• madly
• pell-mell
• wild
• wildly

Noun

• ado
• alarums and excursions
• ballyhoo
• blather
• bluster
• bobbery
• bother
• bustle
• clatter
• clutter [chiefly dialect]
• coil
• commotion
• corroboree [Australian]
• disturbance
• do [chiefly dialect]
• foofaraw
• fun
• furor
• furore
• fuss
• hoo-ha
• hoo-hah
• hoopla
• hubble-bubble
• hubbub
• hullabaloo
• hurly
• hurly-burly
• hurricane
• hurry
• hurry-scurry
• hurry-skurry
• kerfuffle [chiefly British]
• moil
• pandemonium
• pother
• row
• ruckus
• ruction
• rumpus
• shindy
• splore [Scottish]
• squall
• stew
• stir
• storm
• to-do
• tumult
• turmoil
• uproar
• welter
• whirl
• williwaw
• zoo

Adjective

• cursory
• drive-by
• flying
• gadarene
• hasty
• headlong
• hurried
• overhasty
• pell-mell
• precipitate
• precipitous
• rash
• rushed

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

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

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

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