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 of heady

• ecstatic
• giddy
• euphoric

Examples of heady in a Sentence

The plane soared to heady heights.

They were heady with their newfound success.

Recent Examples on the Web

This heady combo, based on my own experience in this space, can improve efficiency, automate complex tasks and enable true predictive capabilities across industries. — Punnam Raju Manthena, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Yes, Venice provides a glamorous, high-profile red carpet, a heady dose of prestige with its long and glittering history, and a Golden Lion win can sometimes pave the way to a best-picture Oscar. — Radhika Seth, Vogue, 9 Aug. 2026

These seats are open to the elements, allowing guests to hear the train whistle loud and clear and smell the heady scent of sugar pines during the ride. — Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 7 Aug. 2026

Bartenders serve a small selection of wine in short glasses emblazoned with white lambs, and a cocktail list features beverages that range from light and herbaceous to sweet and heady. — Usa Today Network, USA Today, 29 July 2026

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