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hellbent

[ hel-bent ]

/ ˈhɛlˌbɛnt /

SEE 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.

Origin of hellbent

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

Words nearby hellbent

hella, hellacious, helladic, hellas, hellbender, hellbent, hellbox, hellbroth, hellcat, helldiver, helle

Example sentences 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