helter-skelter
1 of 3adverb
hel·ter-skel·ter ˌhel-tər-ˈskel-tər 
1
: in undue haste, confusion, or disorder
ran helter-skelter, getting in each other's way
F. V. W. Mason
F. V. W. Mason2
: in a haphazard manner
helter-skelter
2 of 3noun
1
: a disorderly confusion : turmoil
2
British : a spiral slide around a tower at an amusement park
helter-skelter
3 of 3adjective
1
: confusedly hurried : precipitate
2
: marked by a lack of order or plan : haphazard
the helter-skelter arrangement of the papers, all mussed and frayed Jean Stafford
Jean Stafford
Synonyms
Adverb
- amok
- amuck
- berserk
- berserkly
- frantically
- frenetically
- frenziedly
- harum-scarum
- hectically
- madly
- pell-mell
- wild
- wildly
Noun
- ado
- alarums and excursions
- ballyhoo
- blather
- bluster
- bobbery
- bother
- bustle
- clatter
- clutter [chiefly dialect]
- coil
- commotion
- corroboree [Australian]
- disturbance
- do [chiefly dialect]
- foofaraw
- fun
- furor
- furore
- fuss
- hoo-ha
- hoo-hah
- hoopla
- hubble-bubble
- hubbub
- hullabaloo
- hurly
- hurly-burly
- hurricane
- hurry
- hurry-scurry
- hurry-skurry
- kerfuffle [chiefly British]
- moil
- pandemonium
- pother
- row
- ruckus
- ruction
- rumpus
- shindy
- splore [Scottish]
- squall
- stew
- stir
- storm
- to-do
- tumult
- turmoil
- uproar
- welter
- whirl
- williwaw
- zoo
Adjective
- cursory
- drive-by
- flying
- gadarene
- hasty
- headlong
- hurried
- overhasty
- pell-mell
- precipitate
- precipitous
- rash
- rushed
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Word History
Etymology
Adverb
perhaps from Middle English skelten to come, go
First Known Use
Adverb
1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
1713, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adjective
1708, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
helter-skelter
adverb
hel·ter-skel·ter
ˌhel-tər-ˈskel-tər
1
: in a confused and reckless manner
Children raced helter-skelter through the house.
2
: in great disorder
Toys were thrown helter-skelter around the room.
helter-skelter 1 of 3
adjective
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
- hurried
- headlong
- rushed
- impulsive
- hasty
- pell-mell
- sudden
- reckless
- rash
- makeshift
- flying
- precipitate
- precipitous
- rapid
- cursory
- overhasty
- swift
- spontaneous
- breakneck
- madcap
- rush
- abrupt
- quick
- impetuous
- gadarene
- impromptu
- drive-by
- slapdash
- breathtaking
- impatient
- speedy
- horseback
- hotheaded
- heady
- unadvised
- headstrong
- snap
- offhand
- spur-of-the-moment
- off-the-cuff
- offhanded
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unhurried
- deliberate
- unrushed
- circumspect
- prolonged
- foresighted
- calculated
- measured
- tentative
- calculating
- extended
- forethoughtful
- leisurely
- slow
- hesitant
- faltering
- pokey
- poky
- dallying
- drawn-out
- hesitating
- laggard
- dawdling
- long-term
- shilly-shallying
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
- random
- scattered
- arbitrary
- haphazard
- erratic
- slapdash
- stray
- aimless
- sporadic
- accidental
- desultory
- lucky
- contingent
- casual
- irregular
- catch-as-catch-can
- odd
- shotgun
- hit-or-miss
- unpremeditated
- spot
- chance
- chancy
- scattershot
- unsystematic
- unplanned
- fortuitous
- directionless
- purposeless
- indiscriminate
- inadvertent
- disorganized
- incidental
- unconsidered
- objectless
- unintentional
- disorderly
- unintended
- undirected
- flukey
- undiscriminating
- fluky
- unselective
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- orderly
- systematic
- regular
- methodical
- regular
- organized
- continuous
- steady
- stable
- constant
- fixed
- methodic
- nonrandom
- systematized
- arranged
- established
- even
- set
- planned
- deliberate
- purposeful
- conscious
- managed
- wilful
- aware
- thoughtful
- ordered
- orchestrated
- willful
helter-skelter
2 of 3adverb
1
as in wild
in a confused and reckless manner the sheep ran helter-skelter inside their pen when the coyote appeared in their midst Synonyms & Similar Words
- wild
- frantically
- wildly
- uncontrollably
- berserk
- frenziedly
- amok
- frenetically
- hectically
- amuck
- desperately
- harum-scarum
- pell-mell
- madly
- haywire
- haphazard
- crazily
- berserkly
- heedlessly
- recklessly
- haphazardly
- agitatedly
- confusedly
- tumultuously
- turbulently
- riotously
- aimlessly
- feverishly
- chaotically
- skittishly
- topsy-turvy
- wantonly
- hotheadedly
- hit or miss
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- calmly
- coolly
- placidly
- serenely
- unconcernedly
- imperturbably
- cooly
- peacefully
- orderly
- composedly
- meekly
- mildly
- tamely
- collectedly
- systematically
- passively
- methodically
- self-composedly
- self-possessedly
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
- randomly
- haphazard
- haphazardly
- aimlessly
- at random
- irregularly
- erratically
- willy-nilly
- desultorily
- casually
- anyway
- anywise
- carelessly
- anyhow
- promiscuously
- indiscriminately
- arbitrarily
- capriciously
- informally
- whimsically
- hit or miss
- fortuitously
- offhand
- accidentally
- disjointedly
- unpredictably
- unconsciously
- unintentionally
- unwittingly
- inadvertently
- fitfully
- offhandedly
- intermittently
- higgledy-piggledy
- disconnectedly
- topsy-turvy
- spottily
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- systematically
- orderly
- methodically
- carefully
- gingerly
- formally
- deliberately
- meticulously
- intentionally
- purposely
- punctiliously
- purposefully
helter-skelter
3 of 3noun
as in hurry
a state of noisy, confused activity in the helter-skelter at the amusement park the child got separated from his parents Synonyms & Similar Words
- hurry
- commotion
- disturbance
- stir
- turmoil
- clatter
- fuss
- racket
- storm
- pandemonium
- welter
- clutter
- tumult
- rumpus
- row
- fun
- shindy
- hurly-burly
- noise
- bustle
- hurricane
- zoo
- hurry-scurry
- ballyhoo
- hullabaloo
- pother
- whirl
- flurry
- hubbub
- ruckus
- hoopla
- blather
- ruction
- foofaraw
- hoo-hah
- hurly
- furore
- squall
- furor
- moil
- hoo-ha
- kerfuffle
- coil
- upheaval
- bluster
- stew
- ado
- bother
- uproar
- roar
- cacophony
- hubble-bubble
- corroboree
- clamor
- bobbery
- splore
- to-do
- din
- hurry-skurry
- disorder
- howl
- do
- williwaw
- outcry
- alarums and excursions
- brawl
- unrest
- fray
- outbreak
- flutter
- eruption
- mêlée
- outburst
- scuffle
- fracas
- tizzy
- melee
- dither
- fever
- fret
- hue and cry
- lather
- flare-up
- hassle
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- rest
- calm
- quiet
- peace
- tranquillity
- tranquility
- stillness
- hush
- quietude
- order
- orderliness