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
-
This lopsided risk-reward structure encourages bold, sometimes reckless decisions.—
Jim Vinoski,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
All of them, vehicles and passengers, were initially left stranded, victims of a reckless decision.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
16 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Staffers frantically searched for updates on his condition.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Some are stockpiling ingredients, while others are frantically seeking alternative suppliers.—
Phil Lempert,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Rounded plastic equipment prevents potential scraps and presumably is meant to prevent daredevil kids from climbing on top of slide tunnels or jungle gym towers.—
Carrie Lukas,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
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When Francis Ford Coppola finally went into production on Megalopolis, the project carried the weight of decades of anticipation and the air of a high-wire act undertaken by a beloved, daredevil octogenarian.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Aug. 2025
Adverb
-
Our first stop is in a wild-looking stretch 200 yards south of the railroad tracks and State Street.—
Paul A. Smith,
Journal Sentinel,
2 Jan. 2023
-
Just 18 P900s will be built, and the wild-looking hypercar will cost $3 million.—
Caleb Miller,
Car and Driver,
30 Nov. 2022
Adjective
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The Kahlil Joseph film premiered at Sundance earlier this year and was one of the most daring and experimental films at the festival.—
Christian Blauvelt,
IndieWire,
18 Sep. 2025
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The daring elements continued with a sexy back detail that featured more jewels in between her shoulder blades before extending down into a long strap that connected to the bottom of the dress.—
Starr Bowenbank,
PEOPLE,
17 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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Cineplex has jumped on the entertainment experience by opening Cinéma Cineplex Royalmount, a brand-new theater in Montreal which boasts the company’s first ever Quebec location of The Rec Room — a wildly popular concept that combines arcade games and cinema.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
16 Sep. 2025
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The process this year has taken a wildly different trajectory.—
Yasmin Tayag,
The Atlantic,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Harum-scarum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harum-scarum. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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