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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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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
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
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
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But for some reason the powers that be have decreed artificial intelligence a civilizational imperative, requiring the hurried construction of swarms of data centers, on Earth and in space.
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Right now, decisions are being made in a hurried, contradictory fashion.
Adjective
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Luka Dončić got traded at midnight on a random Saturday in February.
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Pinned to their random assortment of hats were scrawled, handmade signs proclaiming liberty or death.
Adverb
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Jessica Gonzalez hustles behind her booth at the recent Renegade Craft Fair, frantically ringing up sales, answering questions and packaging her beeswax candles.
-
For five days Oswadeliz Núñez Ramírez has been frantically searching for her son across hospitals in La Guaira and Caracas.
Adverb
-
These options let the computer randomly generate numbers for you.
-
Iran got a midfielder from Germany when his aunt, a television and film star in Tehran, randomly posted a family photo on social media.
Noun
-
With some flashing lights, this thing flying around in the sky would cause quite a commotion.
-
Any browns feeding there are less likely to have been spooked by the commotion.
Adjective
-
Instead, Mahan and his wealthy Silicon Valley backers talked themselves into a rushed and premature campaign that was never remotely competitive.
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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.
Adjective
-
If your data is messy, scattered or stale, the AI output fails.
-
At Mariposa Market in Willits, grocery items, wine bottles and other merchandise tumbled from shelves, leaving aisles littered with broken glass and scattered products.
Adverb
-
In a wildly entertaining match from start-to-finish, Norway did just enough to sneak into the round of 16 for a date with Brazil in New York/New Jersey.
-
The challenges all take place outside of the studio and are wildly imaginative and surprisingly low-fi.
Cite this Entry
“Helter-skelter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/helter-skelter. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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