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Synonyms

breakneck

American  
[breyk-nek] / ˈbreɪkˌnɛk /

adjective

  1. reckless or dangerous, especially because of excessive speed; hazardous.

    He raced through the streets at breakneck speed.


breakneck British  
/ ˈbreɪkˌnɛk /

adjective

  1. (prenominal) (of speed, pace, etc) excessive and dangerous

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of breakneck

First recorded in 1555–65; break + neck

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.

Lawyers for Elon Musk and OpenAI presented closing arguments Thursday in a blockbuster trial where the verdict could hobble ChatGPT's parent company in the breakneck race for AI supremacy.

From Barron's • May 14, 2026

Comments from a senior South Korean official floating the idea of redistributing profits from the AI windfall to citizens weighed on Korean stocks, tapping the brakes on what has been a breakneck run-up this year.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026

“The contrast between the slow grind lower in March and the subsequent breakneck rally highlights the U.S. equity market’s pronounced right-tail asymmetry and its longer-term progression toward a more bubble-like regime,” they said.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 22, 2026

“One Battle After Another” moves with breakneck speed, its 162 minutes going by in a flash.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2026

And far away in the distance, from the heart of the great factory, came a muffled roar of energy as though some monstrous gigantic machine were spinning its wheels at breakneck speed.

From "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" by Roald Dahl

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