Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [hel-ter-skel-ter]
- /ˈhɛl tərˈskɛl tər/
- /ˌhel.təˈskel.tər/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
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- [hel-ter-skel-ter]
- /ˈhɛl tərˈskɛl tər/
Definitions of helter-skelter word
- adverb helter-skelter in headlong and disorderly haste: The children ran helter-skelter all over the house. 1
- adverb helter-skelter in a haphazard manner; without regard for order: Clothes were scattered helter-skelter about the room. 1
- adjective helter-skelter carelessly hurried; confused: They ran in a mad, helter-skelter fashion for the exits. 1
- adjective helter-skelter disorderly; haphazard: Books and papers were scattered on the desk in a helter-skelter manner. 1
- noun helter-skelter tumultuous disorder; confusion. 1
- adjective helter-skelter You use helter-skelter to describe something that is hurried and disorganized, especially when things happen very quickly, one after the other. 0
Information block about the term
Origin of helter-skelter
First appearance:
before 1585 One of the 35% oldest English words
1585-95; rhyming compound, perhaps based on *skelt, Middle English skelten to hasten (< ?); reduplication with initial h parallel to hubble-bubble, higgledy-piggledy, etc.
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Helter-skelter
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
helter-skelter popularity
A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 31% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.
According to our data about 74% of words is more used. This is a rare but used term. It occurs in the pages of specialized literature and in the speech of educated people.
Synonyms for helter-skelter
adv helter-skelter
- haphazard — characterized by lack of order or planning, by irregularity, or by randomness; determined by or dependent on chance; aimless.
- headlong — with the head foremost; headfirst: to plunge headlong into the water.
- jumbled — to mix in a confused mass; put or throw together without order: You've jumbled up all the cards.
- about — You use about to introduce who or what something relates to or concerns.
- anyhow — Anyhow means the same as anyway.
adj helter-skelter
- chaotic — Something that is chaotic is in a state of complete disorder and confusion.
- hurried — moving or working rapidly, especially forced or required to hurry, as a person.
- arbitrary — If you describe an action, rule, or decision as arbitrary, you think that it is not based on any principle, plan, or system. It often seems unfair because of this.
- carelessly — If someone does something carelessly, they do it without much thought or effort.
- confused — If you are confused, you do not know exactly what is happening or what to do.
Antonyms for helter-skelter
adv helter-skelter
- carefully — cautious in one's actions: Be careful when you cross the street.
- methodical — performed, disposed, or acting in a systematic way; systematic; orderly: a methodical person.
- organized — affiliated in an organization, especially a union: organized dockworkers.
- straight — without a bend, angle, or curve; not curved; direct: a straight path.
- systematic — having, showing, or involving a system, method, or plan: a systematic course of reading; systematic efforts.
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with h
- Words starting with he
- Words starting with hel
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- Words starting with helte
- Words starting with helter
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- Words starting with heltersk
- Words starting with helterske
- Words starting with helterskel
- Words starting with helterskelt
- Words starting with helterskelte
- Words starting with helterskelter