Synonyms of headed

headed

verb

past tense of head

1

as in pointed

to go on a specified course or in a certain direction

she'll be heading out east in the fall to attend college

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pointed
• turned
• steered
• aimed
• directed
• backed
• made
• bore
• faced
• bent
• put
• set out
• set off
• struck
• oriented
• lit
• beelined
• inclined
• veered
• cut
• reversed
• put out
• turned back
• tacked
• took off
• came about
• wheeled
• swerved
• about-faced
• came round
• yawed
• put about

2

as in led

to be at the front of

heading the procession at the dog show was a miniature poodle, followed by dogs seemingly of every breed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• led
• accompanied
• announced
• attended
• preceded
• escorted
• ushered
• heralded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stopped
• ended
• finished
• concluded
• terminated
• followed
• trailed
• tailed
• tailgated
• dogged

3

as in supervised

to be in charge of

who headed the CIA when Ronald Reagan was president?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• supervised
• handled
• oversaw
• managed
• steered
• directed
• commanded
• ran
• guided
• ordered
• controlled
• watched over
• overlooked
• superintended
• captained
• showed
• bossed
• administered
• quarterbacked
• rode herd on
• monitored
• called the tune (for)
• shepherded
• ruled
• called the shots (of)
• presided (over)
• governed
• reigned

4

as in went

to be positioned along a certain course or in a certain direction

the road to riches headed north, thought many, as off they went to Alaska to try their luck at panning gold

Synonyms & Similar Words

• led
• went
• ran
• extended
• lay
• bore
• passed
• crossed
• followed
• cut
• spanned
• traversed
• coursed

5

as in aimed

to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal

after a long day at the beach, we headed the car toward home

Synonyms & Similar Words

• aimed
• directed
• trained
• cast
• held
• set
• bent
• focused
• leveled
• pinpointed
• steered
• faced
• sighted
• concentrated
• bore
• oriented
• inclined

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• diverted
• deflected
• curved
• shunted
• averted
• sidetracked
• detoured
• rechanneled

6

as in commanded

to serve as leader of

Robert La Salle headed the expedition that claimed Louisiana for the French king

Synonyms & Similar Words

• led
• commanded
• captained
• spearheaded
• directed
• dominated
• bossed
• controlled
• managed
• oversaw
• supervised
• handled
• governed
• regulated
• ran
• superintended

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• followed
• served
• submitted (to)
• yielded (to)
• complied (with)
• deferred (to)
• bowed (to)
• obeyed

7

as in decapitated

to cut off the head of

got a job at the slaughterhouse heading cattle

Synonyms & Similar Words

• decapitated
• beheaded
• shortened
• trimmed
• guillotined
• scalped
• pruned
• decollated

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of headed

The delegation — the first since Russian dictator Vladimir Putin annexed Crimea in March 2014 — was headed, symbolically, by Vyacheslav Nikonov, a lawmaker from Putin’s United Russia party and the grandson of Joseph Stalin’s Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov. —Vladimir Kara-Murza, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2026

The Asadollahis headed toward Ward 209, a repository for political prisoners that’s run by Iran’s intelligence ministry. —Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026

In one instance, a tanker headed for India changed course for China. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2026

Jack White is headed back to Studio 8H on Saturday night for his sixth career performance on Saturday Night Live. —Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 3 Apr. 2026