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
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of headlong
Bloomberg Wire,
Dallas Morning News,
16 Feb. 2026
But with Sleep No More, premiering in Berlin’s Special Midnight section this week, the director makes a headlong plunge into horror — infusing the genre with black comedy and a pointed critique of humanity’s slavish worship of capitalism.
—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Feb. 2026
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2026
Distracted, Thundercat’s fifth album, dives headlong into resignation—a supremely 2026 sentiment.
—
Daniel Felsenthal,
Pitchfork,
7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for headlong
Adjective
Few sectors have been transformed by that headlong rush more than global memory.
—
Bloomberg Wire,
Dallas Morning News,
16 Feb. 2026
But with Sleep No More, premiering in Berlin’s Special Midnight section this week, the director makes a headlong plunge into horror — infusing the genre with black comedy and a pointed critique of humanity’s slavish worship of capitalism.
—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Feb. 2026
Adverb
Through all these threads, The Audacity throws itself headlong at some of tech’s biggest hot-button topics, including privacy, AI and, in an oddly halfhearted subplot involving JoAnne’s son, Everett Bliunck’s Orson, the manosphere, with an eye as cold as its characters.
—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2026
Distracted, Thundercat’s fifth album, dives headlong into resignation—a supremely 2026 sentiment.
—
Daniel Felsenthal,
Pitchfork,
7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for headlong
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headlong
Adjective
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But for some reason the powers that be have decreed artificial intelligence a civilizational imperative, requiring the hurried construction of swarms of data centers, on Earth and in space.
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Right now, decisions are being made in a hurried, contradictory fashion.
Adverb
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The Russians have hastily re-fortified the city with new air defence towers, each with a mobile Pantsir anti-aircraft vehicle hoisted on to it.
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This is another entry that seems hastily done, insufficiently explained.
Adverb
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Rodríguez also said the country’s entire public and private healthcare network had been activated to treat the injured, urging doctors, nurses and other medical personnel to report immediately to their workplaces.
-
Arraez fouled a ball off the top of his right foot in the bottom of the first inning on Tuesday, immediately dropping to the ground in pain but ultimately staying in the game.
Adjective
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Instead, Mahan and his wealthy Silicon Valley backers talked themselves into a rushed and premature campaign that was never remotely competitive.
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As immigration officers arrested her six weeks ago, through tears and a rushed goodbye, Maria de Jesus Estrada Juarez had a request for her daughter.
Adverb
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As the party raged on LACMA’s campus, hundreds of parade participants hurriedly prepared for their debuts in the corners of nearby streets and parking lots.
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If another family attempts to invade that space, they are hurriedly pushed away by loud squawking and aggressive flying.
Adverb
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After largely remaining absent from season 2, Rhys Ifans returns as Alicent's father, who's then promptly beheaded before witnesses in the court.
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The Cubs trailed 1-0, and Michael Busch promptly struck out to end a scoring threat.
Adjective
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Seems impulsive … Carter wants to be a cop?
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So buying Chanel’s $72 skin tint was not an impulsive decision.
Adverb
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That brief pause makes the difference between responding wisely and reacting impulsively.
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When Saajan impulsively offers to join her, plans accelerate, leading to some of the most thrilling and heartbreaking moments the piece offers.
Cite this Entry
“Headlong.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headlong. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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