helter-skelter

[hel-ter-skel-ter] / ˈhɛl tərˈskɛl tər /

ADJECTIVE

with undue hurry and confusion

Synonyms

STRONGEST

chaotic haphazard hurried

WEAK

arbitrary carelessly confused disorderly hastily hit or miss hurry-scurry in disorder random recklessly slapdash

Antonyms

STRONGEST

organized systematic

ADVERB

carelessly, confused

Synonyms

STRONGEST

haphazard headlong jumbled

WEAK

about any which way anyhow anywise around at random cluttered disorderly hastily higgledy-piggledy hit-or-miss hotfoot hurriedly impetuously in confusion incautiously incontinently irregular muddled pell-mell random randomly rashly recklessly topsy-turvy tumultuously unmindfully wildly

Antonyms

WEAK

carefully methodical organized straight systematic

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Challambra Hill climb before the final helter-skelter dash to the finish.

From Barron's • Feb. 1, 2026

It was a little more of a helter-skelter approach, but we somehow got through it.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 25, 2025

After a helter-skelter first half, they were level at 20-20.

From BBC • May 24, 2025

That helter-skelter transition threw much of the economics of entertainment out of whack.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 9, 2023

The parlor came next, where the furniture, loose and sloping with age, was set about helter-skelter.

From "Tuck Everlasting" by Natalie Babbit