loggerhead

noun

log·​ger·​head ˈlȯ-gər-ˌhed 

ˈlä-

1

chiefly dialectal

a

: blockhead

b

: head

especially : a disproportionately large head

2

a

: a very large chiefly carnivorous sea turtle (Caretta caretta) of subtropical and temperate waters

b

: alligator snapping turtle

3

: an iron tool consisting of a long handle terminating in a ball or bulb that is heated and used to melt tar or to heat liquids

Illustration of loggerhead

• loggerhead 2a

Phrases

at loggerheads

: in or into a state of quarrelsome disagreement

Synonyms

• airhead
• birdbrain
• blockhead
• bonehead
• bubblehead
• chowderhead
• chucklehead
• clodpoll
• clodpole
• clot [British]
• cluck
• clunk
• cretin
• cuddy [British dialect]
• cuddie
• deadhead
• dim bulb [slang]
• dimwit
• dip
• dodo
• dolt
• donkey
• doofus [slang]
• dope
• dork [slang]
• dullard
• dum-dum
• dumbbell
• dumbhead
• dummkopf
• dummy
• dunce
• dunderhead
• fathead
• gander
• golem
• goof
• goon
• half-wit
• hammerhead
• hardhead
• idiot
• ignoramus
• imbecile
• jackass
• know-nothing
• knucklehead
• lamebrain
• loon
• lump
• lunkhead
• meathead
• mome [archaic]
• moron
• mug [chiefly British]
• mutt
• natural
• nimrod [slang]
• nincompoop
• ninny
• ninnyhammer
• nit [chiefly British]
• nitwit
• noddy
• noodle
• numskull
• numbskull
• oaf
• pinhead
• prat [British]
• ratbag [chiefly Australian]
• saphead
• schlub [slang]
• shlub
• schnook [slang]
• simpleton
• stock
• stupe
• stupid
• thickhead
• turkey
• woodenhead
• yahoo
• yo-yo

Examples of loggerhead in a Sentence

that loggerhead couldn't find the business end of a cow even if his life depended on it

Recent Examples on the Web

These loggerhead sea turtles are about half her age and size. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 10 Apr. 2024

The Congress Party, which dominated politics after India’s independence in 1947, has increasingly fielded its own candidates to fill seats in a majority of the states, alienating regional parties, many of whom were already at loggerheads with each other across state lines. —Astha Rajvanshi, TIME, 2 Apr. 2024

The presentation includes a visit with a loggerhead sea turtle named Sapphire, rays, leopard sharks and more. —The San Diego Union-Tribune Staff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Jan. 2024

Experts who studied aid had long been at loggerheads, with Nobel laureates pitted against one another. —Leif Wenar, WIRED, 27 Mar. 2024

Within the preserve, visitors will also find more than 200 archeological sites with evidence of 6,000-plus years of human life, dolphins, migratory birds, and possibly a sighting of a rare West Indian manatee or loggerhead sea turtle. —Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 20 Mar. 2024

In Casino, Nicky’s voiceover does occasionally push the story along faster, but his version isn’t sufficiently at loggerheads with Sam’s perspective. —Hazlitt, 7 Feb. 2024

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu himself has flatly rejected the idea, saying that a neighboring Palestinian state conflicts with Israel’s need for security — and putting him at direct loggerheads with Biden. —Andrea Mitchell, NBC News, 6 Feb. 2024

One morning, my children and I went on a patrol for loggerhead turtles with a naturalist. —Gisela Williams, Travel + Leisure, 16 Oct. 2023

Word History

Etymology

probably from English dialect logger block of wood + English head

First Known Use

1588, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing loggerhead

• loggerhead shrike

Kids Definition

loggerhead

noun

log·​ger·​head ˈlȯg-ər-ˌhed 

ˈläg-

: any of several very large turtles

especially : a flesh-eating sea turtle of the warmer parts of the western Atlantic