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
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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
Tony Baranek, Chicago Tribune, 22 Apr. 2026
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
Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
Inspired by the helter-skelter brickwork of Chiang Mai's crumbling temples, their façades feature masonry laid in intricate motifs and wooden lattices that create beautiful shadowy patterns when the sun hits.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Mar. 2026
Amazon may not be worth as much as Anthropic soon because one is focused and the other is helter-skelter.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 8 Feb. 2026
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
Adjective
The helter-skelter run down the line.
—Tony Baranek, Chicago Tribune, 22 Apr. 2026
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
Stantis’ drawing shows Jesus hanging on a cross with oversized bombs and mortar shells flying helter-skelter in the air.
—Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
Inspired by the helter-skelter brickwork of Chiang Mai's crumbling temples, their façades feature masonry laid in intricate motifs and wooden lattices that create beautiful shadowy patterns when the sun hits.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Mar. 2026
Amazon may not be worth as much as Anthropic soon because one is focused and the other is helter-skelter.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 8 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for helter-skelter
Adjective
-
Expect efficient service without feeling hurried.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Even the climactic revelations, including the confrontation with the story's big bad, feel hurried.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Those aren’t just random stories.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Law enforcement will also have random checkpoints throughout the county to catch impaired drivers, according to the department's website.—
Alexa Herrera,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
The politicians frown as their entourage of assistants frantically jot things in notebooks that seem like they’ll be filed away somewhere.—
Óscar Martínez,
The Dial,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Everyone’s frantically chasing metrics.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
29 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Analysts say the Israeli military often uses randomly generated international numbers since phone calls are not permitted between the two countries, technically at war for decades.—
Isabel Debre,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The team randomly assigned half of the patients a weekly semaglutide shot and the other half a placebo for six months.—
Dr. Grace Hagan,
ABC News,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Linderbaum, a Pro Bowl selection in each of the past three seasons, signed a three-year, $81 million deal with the Raiders at the start of free agency, which added additional intrigue to the commotion surrounding Baltimore’s abandonment of the Crosby trade.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Could hear what sounded like gunshots or commotion.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
As immigration officers arrested her six weeks ago, through tears and a rushed goodbye, Maria de Jesus Estrada Juarez had a request for her daughter.—
Mathew Miranda,
Sacbee.com,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Little emphasized the need to ease property taxes in a letter accompanying his signature but criticized Moyle’s approach as rushed and overly complex.—
Mark Dee
March 25,
Idaho Statesman,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
There are a few, scattered references to female gladiators.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Within minutes of leaving town, the pavement twists downward through tight turns and steep grades as the mountain air begins to warm, the vegetation giving way to chaparral and scattered juniper, then to the stark silhouettes of ocotillo and Mojave yucca.—
Josh Jackson,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Marvel postproduction is more intense — wildly exciting but super intense.—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
3 May 2026
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But there is plenty of action happening on the Met Gala red carpet—where celebrities make bold fashion statements, sometimes wildly interpreting that year’s dress code and other times bringing along a prop.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Helter-skelter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/helter-skelter. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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