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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 28 July 2025
His mouth is closed and fixed in a humorless grin, concealing the eating machine within eight rows of long, hollow teeth arranged helter-skelter in each rank like thorns on a dead rose.
—Pat Smith, Outdoor Life, 24 July 2025
California continued the helter-skelter Challenger weekend, topping Nashville in a DB 22-20.
—Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
Meanwhile, the Nuggets showed their championship mettle in a helter-skelter win in the final seconds.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025
The Knicks led a helter-skelter match 103-92 with just over eight minutes to go, but a 20-2 Detroit run over the next five-and-a-half minutes carried the Pistons to a seven-point advantage.
—Fred Katz, New York Times, 2 May 2025
For millions of employers around the country, the Trump administration's helter-skelter approach to imposing tariffs on key trading partners, along with just about every other country on the planet, has been challenging, corporate executives and small business owners have told CBS News.
—Alain Sherter, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2025
With their helter-skelter, pressing style, the Grizzlies are a balanced team.
—Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2025
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
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
His mouth is closed and fixed in a humorless grin, concealing the eating machine within eight rows of long, hollow teeth arranged helter-skelter in each rank like thorns on a dead rose.
—Pat Smith, Outdoor Life, 24 July 2025
California continued the helter-skelter Challenger weekend, topping Nashville in a DB 22-20.
—Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
Meanwhile, the Nuggets showed their championship mettle in a helter-skelter win in the final seconds.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025
The Knicks led a helter-skelter match 103-92 with just over eight minutes to go, but a 20-2 Detroit run over the next five-and-a-half minutes carried the Pistons to a seven-point advantage.
—Fred Katz, New York Times, 2 May 2025
For millions of employers around the country, the Trump administration's helter-skelter approach to imposing tariffs on key trading partners, along with just about every other country on the planet, has been challenging, corporate executives and small business owners have told CBS News.
—Alain Sherter, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2025
With their helter-skelter, pressing style, the Grizzlies are a balanced team.
—Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for helter-skelter
Adjective
-
Some sequences feel hurried, some satirical dialogue is a little too on the nose and a special effect around the climax lacks the polish of the production design elsewhere.—
Leila Latif,
IndieWire,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Additionally, hurried or reactive infrastructure development may expose the investor to significant foreign asset reporting and tax burdens (NCTI, for example) that could have been mitigated if a multi-disciplinary framework had been considered.—
Priya Prakash Royal Esq. LL.M. MBA AEP TEP,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The bookstore idea came from a random day at her local coffee shop and an empty stall in the strip mall.—
Rick Mauch,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Sep. 2025
-
During a random search of the area, two officers accidentally stumble on a member of the gang posing as a municipal worker in a high-viz boiler suit.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
5 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Footage from the rescue mission shared by Michigan State Police on X shows the woman frantically waving towards the helicopter above her while lost amongst the trees.—
Latoya Gayle,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Dexter begins frantically searching the paperwork for something that could point him toward the eight-digit vault code that could grant him freedom.—
Nick Caruso,
TVLine,
5 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Opponents of the idea see a hand on the scale and a new label on a socialist effort to redistribute wealth and opportunity randomly and haphazardly without a thought as to possible consequences.—
John Scott Lewinski,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
-
These options let the computer randomly generate numbers for you.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
But add to the equation local merchants and eateries and the vibes abounded, which is not to say the cause got lost in the commotion.—
Shirley Halperin,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Aug. 2025
-
All the commotion around them was stifling.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
In her post, the 27-year-old shares how a rushed layover and a tight schedule turned a simple flight connection into an emotional ordeal.—
Ashley Vega,
People.com,
23 Aug. 2025
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However, concerns have been raised by industry stakeholders about a rushed and opaque consultation process, with some fearing prior targets will be watered down.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
3 Sep. 2019
Adjective
-
The result was a mile-long line that turned scattered craftwork into synchronized production.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Aug. 2025
-
More likely, a supernova occurs inside a galaxy loaded with numerous, scattered clouds of gas and dust.—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
7 Aug. 2025
Adverb
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At the same time, everything from mini-bars to a beer at what were once cheap lobby bars has gotten wildly overpriced, especially on the Strip.—
Larry Olmsted,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Something might feel wildly familiar about episode 5 of FX’s Alien prequel.—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Helter-skelter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/helter-skelter. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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