headlong 1 of 2

adjective

ˈhed-ˌlȯŋ How to pronounce headlong (audio)
Definition of headlongnext
as in hurried
acting or done with excessive or careless speed terrified forest creatures in a headlong retreat from the rapidly spreading fire

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

headlong

2 of 2

adverb

ˈhed-ˈlȯŋ How to pronounce headlong (audio)
1
as in hastily
with excessive or careless speed plunged headlong into the crowd in pursuit of the purse snatcher

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in immediately
without delay had barely finished the last project when we went headlong into the next one

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective headlong contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of headlong are abrupt, impetuous, precipitate, and sudden. While all these words mean "showing undue haste or unexpectedness," headlong stresses rashness and lack of forethought.

a headlong flight from arrest

When is abrupt a more appropriate choice than headlong?

The synonyms abrupt and headlong are sometimes interchangeable, but abrupt stresses curtness and a lack of warning or ceremony.

an abrupt refusal

In what contexts can impetuous take the place of headlong?

While the synonyms impetuous and headlong are close in meaning, impetuous stresses extreme impatience or impulsiveness.

an impetuous lover proposing marriage

Where would precipitate be a reasonable alternative to headlong?

In some situations, the words precipitate and headlong are roughly equivalent. However, precipitate stresses lack of due deliberation and implies prematureness of action.

the army's precipitate withdrawal

When would sudden be a good substitute for headlong?

The words sudden and headlong are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sudden stresses unexpectedness and sharpness or violence of action.

flew into a sudden rage

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of headlong
Adjective
What burning question prompted such a headlong pursuit? — Literary Hub, 9 Apr. 2026 The real threat to Americans is our headlong rush toward normalizing blatant murder, whether that be of nameless occupants of motorboats in the Caribbean, schoolgirls in Iran or United States citizens in the streets of Minneapolis. — Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
Adverb
Reese’s relentless work on the offensive glass runs headlong into Golden State’s small-ball identity – a style built on pace, spacing and 3-and-D versatility. — Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 25 June 2026 Hello and welcome to Regulator, an email for Verge subscribers about technology, politics, and what happens when science crashes headlong into self-interest. — Tina Nguyen, The Verge, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for headlong
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headlong
  1. hurried
  2. hastily
  3. immediately
  4. rushed
  5. hurriedly
  6. promptly
  7. impulsive
  8. impulsively
Adjective
  • Hours later, across the globe, after the Dodgers dispatched the San Diego Padres in a season-opening win – and after Mizuhara served as Ohtani’s interpreter in a hurried and rushed postgame media scrum – Hiltzik called ESPN again.
    — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 28 July 2026
  • That hurried buildup led to an enormous industrial overhang, and, in California’s San Francisco Bay and elsewhere, a sad legacy of polluted and abandoned waterfront.
    — Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of hurried
Adverb
  • According to reports, a midmorning meeting was hastily scheduled.
    — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Bad actors used to hastily scrap together basic scripts – instructions for automating tasks – to achieve their goals, according to Meyers.
    — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of hastily
Adverb
  • Clark immediately started limping and grimaced as she was subbed out.
    — James Boyd, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Instead of committing immediately to a single vehicle architecture, the Army is effectively subjecting multiple approaches to the same test regime and allowing battlefield performance to determine which ones deserve further investment.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of immediately
Adjective
  • The teen’s family has said this was a rushed judgment that did not involve a thorough enough investigation.
    — Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026
  • The rushed and botched release of Apple Intelligence made clear that Apple's AI strategy wasn't fully fleshed out.
    — Kevin Stankiewicz,Zev Fima, CNBC, 10 July 2026
Definition of rushed
Adverb
  • Bouncing hurriedly in my direction was a bright-eyed kid with a huge smile.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 27 July 2026
  • The final vehicles before the arrival of the race convoy are hurriedly rushed off-course, officials in dark blue polo shirts whistling them through.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Definition of hurriedly
Adverb
  • Clean up dog poop promptly; keep up with veterinary care and parasite prevention; and clean the bowls, bedding, crates, and toys of a pet being treated for giardia.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The Dodgers had lost seven in a row before finally winning Saturday at Arizona, then promptly resumed the slide Sunday with a loss to the Diamondbacks.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of promptly
Adjective
  • But as with any James Gray film, there are life-altering consequences on the other side of impulsive decision-making for the sake of the American dream.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 10 Aug. 2026
  • That pause may stop an impulsive post from growing into a much bigger problem.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of impulsive
Adverb
  • Frankie impulsively breaks Taylor out of hospice care for one final night of fun and debauchery, but what promises to be a night of hedonism quickly becomes something much more complicated.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 11 Aug. 2026
  • After midnight may be becoming the new prime time for online shopping, especially for Gen Zers, who impulsively overspend during those hours more than any other age groups, a new survey showed.
    — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 14 July 2026
Definition of impulsively

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headlines
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Cite this Entry

“Headlong.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headlong. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of headlong for Spanish Speakers

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