hell-bent
(originally, US, informal) In a recklessly determined manner; determinedly, wholeheartedly.
Seen in the wild
This is an indictment of our nation's educational standards and achievement, now fit for only Third-World status, peasants, and superstitious natives. Are we hell-bent on returning to the Middle Ages??
This would solve a lot of issues! Won’t hold my breath, but something drastic needs to be done to protect 🇺🇸 democracy—SCOTUS seems hell-bent on distroying it.
Definitions
(originally, US, informal) In a recklessly determined manner; determinedly, wholeheartedly.
“This is an indictment of our nation's educational standards and achievement, now fit for only Third-World status, peasants, and superstitious natives. Are we hell-bent on returning to the Middle Ages??”
— Bluesky· May 2026“This would solve a lot of issues! Won’t hold my breath, but something drastic needs to be done to protect 🇺🇸 democracy—SCOTUS seems hell-bent on distroying it.”
— Bluesky· May 2026
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(originally, US, informal) Recklessly determined to do or achieve (something).
He was hell-bent on coming first, no matter what.
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Semantically related
- catch hell63%
(slang, idiomatic) To be severely reprimanded, punished, or beaten.
- get bent63%
(derogatory, colloquial, chiefly, UK) To be revealed as homosexual.
- bust one's hump62%
(North America, slang) To work very hard; to put in strenuous effort.
- hell to the no62%
Expressing firm disagreement or refusal.