hell-bent

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See also: hellbent

English

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Etymology

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From hell (in a manner that uses all of the strength, speed, or effort that a person can summon) +‎ bent (determined, insistent),[1] that is, in the sense “determined like hell”.

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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hell-bent (comparative more hell-bent, superlative most hell-bent)

  1. (originally US, informal) Recklessly determined to do or achieve (something). [with on ‘something’]
    Synonym: dead set
    He was hell-bent on coming first, no matter what.
    • 1995, Nick Hornby, High Fidelity, London: Victor Gollancz, →ISBN, page 16:
      If somebody had asked me why I was so hell-bent on grabbing a piece of Penny Hardwick's chest, I wouldn't have known what to say. And if somebody were to ask Penny why she was so hell-bent on stopping me, I'll bet she'd be stumped for an answer too.
    • 2023 September 26, Sam Jones, “Spain elections: Feijóo launches doomed bid to lead country”, in The Guardian[1], →ISSN:
      The PP has seized on the possibility of an amnesty to rally support and to portray the PSOE leader as craven, dependent on Catalan separatists and hellbent on remaining in office.

Alternative forms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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Adverb

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hell-bent (comparative more hell-bent, superlative most hell-bent)

  1. (originally US, informal) In a recklessly determined manner; determinedly, wholeheartedly.

Translations

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References

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  1. ^ hell-bent, adj. and adv.”, in OED Online Paid subscription required, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, March 2020; hell-bent, adj.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.