Library / English Dictionary

HARUM-SCARUM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A reckless impetuous irresponsible person

Synonyms:

daredevil; harum-scarum; hothead; lunatic; madcap; swashbuckler

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("harum-scarum" is a kind of...):

adventurer; venturer (a person who enjoys taking risks)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "harum-scarum"):

tearaway (a reckless and impetuous person)

Derivation:

harum-scarum (cheerfully irresponsible)

 II. (adjective) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Cheerfully irresponsible

Example:

had a harum-scarum youth

Synonyms:

carefree; devil-may-care; freewheeling; happy-go-lucky; harum-scarum; slaphappy

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

irresponsible (showing lack of care for consequences)

Derivation:

harum-scarum (a reckless impetuous irresponsible person)

 III. (adverb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

In a wild or reckless manner

Example:

running pell-mell up the stairs

Synonyms:

harum-scarum; pell-mell

Classified under:

Adverbs

Credits