hellbent

[ hel-bent ]

/ ˈhɛlˌbɛnt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR hellbent ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

stubbornly or recklessly determined.

going at terrific speed.

adverb

in a hellbent manner; with reckless determination; at full speed.

Nearby words

Origin of hellbent

An Americanism dating back to 1825–35; hell + bent¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for hell-bent

Brienne demands the deformed, less savage Clegane brother fork her over, but he refuses, hell-bent on receiving his bounty.
Game of Thrones’ Gwendoline Christie on Brienne of Tarth’s Epic S4 Finale Showdown with The Hound|Marlow Stern|June 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Food stamps have already been cut, and congressional Republicans are hell-bent on cutting them further.
With the Ryan-Murray Deal, Washington Stops Hurting the Economy|Daniel Gross|December 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST
They are also hell-bent on seeking retribution against members who turn their backs on the gang or snitch to the police.
What’s So Scary About the Texas Aryan Brotherhood? Take a Look at the Indictments|Christine Pelisek|April 3, 2013|DAILY BEAST
For a candidate whose opponents on the right were hell-bent on hanging the RINO label on him, it was a problem.
Romney’s Flip-Flops on Gun Control Over the Years|Jesse Singal|July 25, 2012|DAILY BEAST

Like virtually every other Senate Republican, he is hell-bent on reducing the deficit.
Why Jon Kyl, GOP Leaders Refuse to Make Hard Calls|Peter Beinart|November 22, 2010|DAILY BEAST
After that she was sure I was a lost soul and hell-bent for certain.
Old Man Curry|Charles E. (Charles Emmett) Van Loan
But he was hard-mouthed, and stiff-necked and hell-bent on having his own way about things.
I Married a Ranger|Dama Margaret Smith
Wal, I reckon as you're so hell-bent on doin' it up brown thet you'll try to fire me off'n the range, too?
The Light of Western Stars|Zane Grey
He's hell-bent on takin' Dinsmore to prison so as to make a big name for himself.
Oh, You Tex!|William Macleod Raine
Hearing of the adventure, and that I was taking a land-slide to perdition and was hell-bent, friends called to warn and save me.
Edgar Saltus: The Man|Marie Saltus

British Dictionary definitions for hell-bent

hellbent

/ (ˌhɛlˈbɛnt) /

adjective

(postpositive and foll by on) informal strongly or rashly intent

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

Word Origin and History for hell-bent

hellbent

adj.

also hell-bent, 1835, U.S., originally slang, from hell + bent (1).

hellbent

adjective

adverb

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Nearby words

Origin of hellbent

Examples from the Web for hell-bent

British Dictionary definitions for hell-bent

hellbent

adjective

Word Origin and History for hell-bent

hellbent