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headlong

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adverb

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
The Trump administration may sell several federal properties in Fort Worth and Dallas as a part of its headlong attempt to slash federal spending. Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2025 The nuclear dilemma makes Tehran’s position all the more fraught, by likely forcing it into a headlong confrontation with the Trump White House. Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
Adverb
The team delve headlong into the uncanny to bring the fascinating world of the podcast to the screen. Holly Jones, Variety, 10 Feb. 2025 Most of the egg-laying chickens — nearly 22 million — died in the fourth quarter of 2024 alone, creating a supply shock that ran headlong into peak seasonal demand around the winter holidays, when more households buy eggs for baking recipes, for example, Smith said. Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 10 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for headlong
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headlong
Adjective
  • The German foreign minister flew to the United States on February 2 and returned to Europe the same night in a hurried effort to convince Baker of the need for a nonexpansion pledge to secure German unification.
    Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 9 Apr. 2025
  • The student's hurried departure comes as federal officials consider whether to bring terrorism charges against people who participated in last year's sit-ins and encampments that began at Columbia University but spread nationally.
    Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2025
Adverb
  • In an interview with the Financial Times published Monday, Langone decried Trump’s tariffs as too large, imposed too hastily, and based on an incoherent mathematical formula.
    Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025
  • The fresh graves of their dead wives and children are lined neatly in a row, the result of a strike hastily agreed to over text message thousands of miles away.
    Rozina Ali, New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2025
Adverb
  • China is under pressure to negotiate a deal whether the tariffs take effect immediately or in three months, Ackman said in a post on X.
    John Bacon, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2025
  • These models are not immediately replacing user-facing interfaces like ChatGPT but are positioned as tools for developers building applications and services.
    Janakiram MSV, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Adverb
  • If the government doesn't reimburse them promptly, the inspectors worry about having to pay the steep bills themselves.
    Sydney Lupkin, NPR, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Several lawsuits claimed the drugstore chain failed to protect its customers and did not notify them of the incident promptly.
    Ryley Amond, CNBC, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • What began as an impulsive decision turned into an unforgettable journey, one that gave her the opportunity to experience the U.S. in a way few travelers do.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 13 Apr. 2025
  • This often leads to better returns than active trading, which generally incurs higher costs and taxes and stems from impulsive, emotional decision-making, experts said.
    Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 5 Apr. 2025
Adverb
  • Uber was appealing because using an app to instantly summon a car is much easier than chasing down a cab.
    Lila Shroff, The Atlantic, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Panthenol soothes the skin and strengthens the moisture barrier, and the lightly bubbling texture is instantly calming.
    Annie Blackman, Allure, 21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • An arrest warrant was obtained for Lacy for negligent homicide, felony hit-and-run and reckless operation of a vehicle.
    Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Reinoso-Gallegos was arrested without incident and transported to Troop H where he was charged with operating under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, reckless driving, operating a motor vehicle at too slow speed and second-degree reckless endangerment.
    Staff report, Hartford Courant, 18 Apr. 2025
Adverb
  • Federal law bars the president from directly or indirectly ordering the IRS to conduct or terminate an audit or investigation.
    Hannah Demissie, ABC News, 17 Apr. 2025
  • These arrests are part of a much larger problem: Public records show that more than 700 homeless people are arrested each month on a variety of charges that are, a county official said, often tied to homelessness itself, even when they’re not directly related to camping.
    Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 17 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Headlong.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headlong. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

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