hell-bent

adjective

ˈhel-ˌbent How to pronounce hell-bent (audio)
Synonyms of hell-bent
: stubbornly and often recklessly determined or intent
hell-bent on winning
hell-bent adverb

Synonyms of hell-bent

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Examples of hell-bent in a Sentence

she's hell-bent on a career in show business and heaven help anyone who gets in her way
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The show sought to expand norms of representation—a project whose sincerity all but courts the cringeworthy—with artists hell-bent on deconstructing the drive for beauty, including Orlan, Sara Cwynar, Juno Calypso, and Haley Morris-Cafiero. — Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026 After all, the Federal Reserve is hell-bent on getting inflation to 2%, and its moves are raising yields at the long end of the yield curve — although most just say that's caused by inflation or supply-side factors. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026 The owners are hell-bent on their demand for a salary cap whether the underdog Brewers win, or the big, bad Dodgers do. — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026 Their push takes on a new urgency when Cleo (Fisher) moves to town and becomes hell-bent on reaching 1960s Paris to become Jean-Luc Godard’s muse. — Brent Lang, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hell-bent

Word History

First Known Use

1731, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hell-bent was in 1731

Browse Nearby Words

hellbender
hell-bent
hell-bind
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hell-bent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hell-bent. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

hell-bent

adjective
-ˌbent
: stubbornly and often recklessly determined
hell-bent on revenge
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