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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in randomly
without definite aim, direction, rule, or method
goods arranged helter-skelter on the shelves of the variety store
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
Its regularity and rhythm cut against a helter-skelter modernity that has neither.
—Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 30 Oct. 2025
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
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
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
And, with seven defensive backs plus linebacker Tremaine Edmunds protecting the end zone, Jarrett found himself in the middle of a helter-skelter three-man rush.
—Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
Its regularity and rhythm cut against a helter-skelter modernity that has neither.
—Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 30 Oct. 2025
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for helter-skelter
Adjective
-
No desks stacked with laptops, no hurried haggling over prices in tight booths, no sense that collectors were racing against the clock.—
Manal Albarakati,
semafor.com,
9 Feb. 2026
-
While the timing seems suspect and a bit hurried, the Italian veteran actor and James make their characters’ connection feel inevitable.—
Lisa Kennedy,
Variety,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Instead, a suitcase and a random assortment of clothes disappeared along with her.—
Kristine Phillips,
IndyStar,
5 Feb. 2026
-
PlayStation consoles rely on a type of dynamic random access memory, or DRAM, chips, which are in short supply as demand from artificial intelligence and data center operators increases.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
5 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Footage captures the chaotic initial response, with officers unsure if the shooter remained in the building and frantically searching for victims.—
Kimberlee Kruesi,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
At the same time, as influential tech journalist Casey Newton noted, TikTok’s algorithm seemed to fail immediately after the handover, leaving its largely Gen Z fanbase frantically seeking an alternative to the addictive feed.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
5 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Others have tried to explain the collapse as a real, spontaneous, randomly timed physical event that picks out a unique outcome from among the many possibilities — although just what factors would cause such a physical collapse are unclear.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The mysterious case of a chain-saw-wielding vandal who appeared to randomly terrorize trees in and around downtown Los Angeles last year has come to an anticlimactic close.—
Grace Toohey,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Subscribe to Stocks @ Night today and see what the commotion will be about tomorrow today.—
,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
-
His parents, who help run the local taco chain, stood in customized Villa’s jerseys and marveled at the commotion Monday.—
Stephanie Breijo,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
May 21 – June 20 Steady, thoughtful sentences are your friend — skip the rushed word vomit!—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
18 Jan. 2026
-
Gemini May 21 – June 20 Steady, thoughtful sentences are your friend — skip the rushed word vomit!—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
18 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
His scattered family, like so many others, reflects the extraordinary exodus of almost 8 million Venezuelans — regarded as the largest-ever displacement of people in the Americas.—
Mery Mogollon,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
-
More scattered sleet, snow and ice are expected for the afternoon, before widespread precipitation is predicted to return Saturday night.—
Julia James,
Dallas Morning News,
24 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Her wildly optimistic logic is that fiscal stimulus will spark growth, and that the private sector will raise long-stagnant wages, thereby increasing tax revenues.—
Jeff Kingston,
Time,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The year was 1971, the HUD secretary was George Romney (father of future Utah senator Mitt), and the prediction was wildly off.—
Ben Christopher,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Helter-skelter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/helter-skelter. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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