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harum-scarum 1 of 2

adjective

ˌher-əm-ˈsker-əm How to pronounce harum-scarum (audio)
Definition of harum-scarumnext
as in reckless
having or showing a lack of concern for the consequences of one's actions a harum-scarum dash through the crowded terminal to make the flight

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

harum-scarum

2 of 2

adverb

as in frantically
in a confused and reckless manner tossed everything harum-scarum from the closet in a desperate attempt to find her shoes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of harum-scarum
Adjective
Years of harum-scarum borrowing and spending combined with economic wallops from the Covid-19 pandemic, soaring interest rates and inflation helped drive up Kenya’s debt to $80 billion. — Patricia Cohen, New York Times, 4 May 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harum-scarum
  1. reckless
  2. frantically
  3. daredevil
  4. wild
  5. daring
  6. wildly
Adjective
  • Before deciding someone is reckless or overly cautious, look at what each of you is actually trying to protect.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026
  • He was charged with reckless endangerment, a low level felony, and later released.
    — Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of reckless
Adverb
  • An influencer who’d been posing in a sports bra and very short shorts sprinted past us in a panic, trailed by some poor guy juggling way too much camera gear and a frantically barking Chihuahua.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026
  • In the moments after the girl was run over by the truck, bystanders could be seen frantically waving their hands and running to help her.
    — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of frantically
Adjective
  • In the late nineties and two-thousands, Hsu and his daredevil friends had proudly put their sleepy Silicon Valley city on the map as an unlikely skateboarding capital.
    — Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026
  • News earlier in the month, Johnson and East chatted about life at home with their three little ones, and shared which kid is taking on a daredevil personality.
    — Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026
Definition of daredevil
Adverb
  • Two more runs scored in the fourth inning when Ohtani, Pages and Freeman strung together three consecutive two-out singles and Keller wild-pitched a run home.
    — Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 12 June 2026
  • First, like cucumbers, squash is a wild-growing vegetable that competes for garden space, according to Dilmore.
    — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 9 June 2026
Definition of wild
Adjective
  • Its budget has been reported as anywhere between €14 million ($16 million) and €18 million ($20 million), which can only be achieved in Europe via a daring and bullish backing by a major player.
    — John Hopewell, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026
  • From classic works to recent and more structurally daring standouts, historical fiction remains one of writing’s most popular forms.
    — David Faris, TheWeek, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of daring
Adverb
  • Any pressure on Prince William to reconcile is wildly unfair.
    — Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Marsh plays Anh, a graduate student and best friend to Lili Reinhart‘s Olive in the streamer’s adaptation of the wildly popular Ali Hazelwood novel.
    — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of wildly

Browse Nearby Words

harshness
harum-scarum
harvest
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Harum-scarum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harum-scarum. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

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