harum-scarum 1 of 2

adjective

ˌher-əm-ˈsker-əm How to pronounce harum-scarum (audio)
Definition of harum-scarumnext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

harum-scarum

2 of 2

adverb

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
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
  1. reckless
  2. frantically
  3. daredevil
  4. wild
  5. daring
  6. wildly
Adjective
  • The insults often accompany reports and even videos of kids and teens engaging in reckless riding — weaving through traffic, running stop signs, ignoring pedestrians, and performing stunts like wheelies in opposing lanes, sometimes without helmets.
    — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 7 July 2026
  • Platner has faced multiple allegations of reckless and drunken behavior and disturbing behavior toward women since launching his campaign in August.
    — Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of reckless
Adverb
  • Jessica Gonzalez hustles behind her booth at the recent Renegade Craft Fair, frantically ringing up sales, answering questions and packaging her beeswax candles.
    — Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • For five days Oswadeliz Núñez Ramírez has been frantically searching for her son across hospitals in La Guaira and Caracas.
    — Sonia Osorio, Miami Herald, 29 June 2026
Definition of frantically
Adjective
  • The daredevil couple, who scaled the building dressed in dark outfits and masks, were each charged with first-degree reckless endangerment, second-degree criminal mischief and an additional charge related to the incident.
    — Ashley Mowreader, NBC news, 4 July 2026
  • But naturally, the daredevil actor opted to wear the heavy suit — with one version weighing roughly 85 pounds, costume designer Pierre Bohanna told Entertainment Weekly.
    — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
Definition of daredevil
Adverb
  • Two more runs scored in the fourth inning when Ohtani, Pages and Freeman strung together three consecutive two-out singles and Keller wild-pitched a run home.
    — Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 12 June 2026
  • First, like cucumbers, squash is a wild-growing vegetable that competes for garden space, according to Dilmore.
    — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 9 June 2026
Definition of wild
Adjective
  • This daring accessory was first debuted in Schiaparelli’s fall 2024 ready-to-wear collection, and the hairy tie has been making the rounds with other celebrities such as Selma Blair.
    — Christian Allaire, Vogue, 6 July 2026
  • The younger sister of Kate Middleton made headlines in the frock (still considered to be one of her most daring looks to date), which featured a low-cut V-neckline and pretty off-the-shoulder design.
    — Christina Perrier, InStyle, 6 July 2026
Definition of daring
Adverb
  • As Egypt celebrated wildly, referee François Letexier went to the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) screen to look at a foul that may have occurred in the buildup.
    — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
  • Marfan syndrome is particularly mysterious because members of a family who carry the same exact mutation can have wildly different health trajectories, Catherine Boileau, a geneticist at the French health research institution INSERM, told me.
    — Roxanne Khamsi, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026
Definition of wildly

Browse Nearby Words

harshness
harum-scarum
harvest
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Cite this Entry

“Harum-scarum.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harum-scarum. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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