heady

adjective

ˈhe-dē 

headier; headiest

1

a

: willful, rash

heady opinions

b

: violent, impetuous

2

a

: tending to intoxicate or make giddy or elated

heady wine

being in such distinguished company was a heady experience

b

: giddy, exhilarated

heady with his success

c

: rich

a heady sauce

a heady variety

d

: impressive

a man of heady accomplishments

3

a

: marked by or showing good judgment : shrewd, intelligent

b

: intellectually stimulating or demanding

headily

ˈhe-də-lē 

adverb

headiness

ˈhe-dē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• ecstatic
• elated
• elevated
• enrapt
• enraptured
• entranced
• euphoric
• exhilarated
• giddy
• intoxicated
• rapt
• rapturous
• rhapsodic
• rhapsodical

Examples of heady in a Sentence

The plane soared to heady heights.

They were heady with their newfound success.

Recent Examples on the Web

But Sinners is Coogler’s first entirely original work—a strange, heady piece of horror set in the Jim Crow Deep South over the course of a single evening. —David Sims, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2025

The result is one of extreme, almost heady disparity in aspect ratios (1.43:1 for IMAX 65mm and 2.76:1 for Ultra Panavision 70) that allow the film to emphasize both its period trappings and supernatural atmosphere. —Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 19 Apr. 2025

The 2021 vintage is no exception and offers heady aromas of black currant, spicy sandalwood, and a whiff of English toffee. —Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 17 Apr. 2025

There was more heady, academic-type language around dyslexia. —As Told To Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 15 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for heady

• ready
• reddi
• steady
• teddy
• thready
• already
• unsteady

Kids Definition

heady

adjective

ˈhed-ē 

headier; headiest

1

: willful sense 1, rash

2

: likely to make one giddy

heady wine

a heady height

headily

ˈhed-ə-lē 

adverb

headiness

ˈhed-ē-nəs 

noun