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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
-
Michael and Jill White's son was also killed by a reckless driver.—
Shaun Boyd,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Wade did negotiate a plea – guilty to one count each of simple assault and reckless conduct – according to court documents.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
6 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Two crew members have been recovered while another remains in Iran, with search-and-rescue teams frantically trying to find him.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The robot appears in the film at the info booth at the galactic weigh station as Mario, Luigi, and Yoshi frantically try to catch up with Peach.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
Keanu Reeves is back as Canadian daredevil toy Duke Caboom.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
23 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
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
-
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
-
Authorities on Tuesday reportedly apprehended the Michigan woman who went viral after wriggling her way through a police cruiser window while still handcuffed in a daring getaway, according to local outlets.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The short teaser centers on yet more daring rescue missions from the heroic pups.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
And while the legal penalties for the two are wildly different, the results behind the wheel are often just as dangerous.—
Doug Turnbull,
AJC.com,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Nashville broke a three-way traffic jam on Saturday via a 6-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks and the Kings prevailed in a wildly unpredictable, and at times unprofessional, match against Toronto, 7-6 in overtime.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Harum-scarum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harum-scarum. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
