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
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
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Recent Examples of harum-scarum
Patricia Cohen, New York Times, 4 May 2025
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
Adjective
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Hales, who is free on $160,000 bail, faces two counts of reckless burning causing death, two counts of reckless burning of an inhabited structure, two counts of child endangerment and one count of animal cruelty.—
Jasmine Mendez
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Mar. 2026
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He was acquitted at the first trial of murder and reckless endangerment.—
Mike Randall,
USA Today,
14 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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Instagram’s headquarters must have been frantically scrambling to make sure the traffic rushing to Ann Dowd’s account didn’t crash its servers?—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
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But 911 dispatchers didn't get the critical information to the many officers frantically searching for Denise Lee.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Children can participate in fishing, particularly on the lake, and daredevil kiddos over eight can try their hand at driving cars at nearby Thruxton Circuit.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 Mar. 2026
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Keanu Reeves is back as Canadian daredevil toy Duke Caboom.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
23 Feb. 2026
Adverb
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The Edge Spa, perched on the side of a precipice overlooking Alexander Creek, showcases ingredients grown or wild-harvested on site.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
10 Dec. 2025
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Most of the region's black walnuts are currently wild-foraged and sold by the pound at local hulling centers.—
Randy Moll,
Arkansas Online,
11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Hollywood's biggest names kept the party going at the 2026 Vanity Fair Oscar Party — turning heads in some of 2026’s sexiest and most daring fashion statements.—
Christina Dugan Ramirez,
FOXNews.com,
16 Mar. 2026
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The daring creation featured a strapless neckline, subtle crystal embellishment, and a skirt that was completely split down the sides to reveal glittery sheer trousers beneath.—
Christina Perrier,
InStyle,
15 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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One of the newest bands on the Street Mob roster, the quartet has stood out for its smoother, more sentimental approach to música mexicana — and for the wildly likable onstage presence of singer and frontman Gustavo Raya-García.—
Julyssa Lopez,
Rolling Stone,
14 Mar. 2026
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The outgoing president of the Kennedy Center leaves the institution renamed, nearly closed, and wildly unpopular.—
Jonathan L. Fischer,
The Atlantic,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Harum-scarum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harum-scarum. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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