headlands

plural of headland
1
as in peninsulas
an area of high ground jutting out into a body of water beyond the line of the coast the lighthouse, situated on a narrow, rocky headland, commands an expansive view of the coast

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in capes
an area of land that juts out into a body of water navigation is notoriously difficult at the southernmost tip of South America, where ships must round the headland of Cape Horn

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of headlands One of the biggest changes was to replace the long, rock groins originally proposed with short, landscaped headlands. Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026 Twenty-one hundred miles can already be walked, allowing visitors to view England’s famous headlands, cliffs, beaches, and dunes, as well as castles, oceanside resorts, and wartime relics. Gloria Liu, Travel + Leisure, 20 July 2026 Once twilight fades, the cliffs and headlands nearby become excellent places to watch for bright Perseid meteors. Jamie Carter, Space.com, 15 July 2026 If time allows for a mini roadtrip, cross the Golden Gate Bridge and head out to Point Reyes National Seashore, a treasure trove of rocky headlands, beaches, and waterfall hikes. Becky Duffett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 June 2026 Trade those greatest hits for a few hours’ drive above Dublin and the reward is a wilder, more elemental Ireland — Atlantic headlands carved by weather rather than postcards, beaches that appear out of nowhere, and cliffs that don’t require elbowing for a view. David Dickstein, Oc Register, 13 May 2026 From bay to headlands, the Crosstown Trail slices diagonally across San Francisco in a 17-mile arc. Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026 Wind gusts will be particularly strong along windward ridges and exposed coastal headlands. Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 24 Dec. 2025 Bondi Beach, Australia Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach sports a sweeping, kilometer-long curve of golden sand, between two headlands, lashed by surf waves. Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headlands
Noun
  • The bridge stretches for 5 miles, traversing the Straits of Mackinac to link Michigan’s Upper and Lower peninsulas.
    Hannah Agran, Midwest Living, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The island is already home to Discovery Land Company’s Barbuda Ocean Club, which encompasses 900 acres across the western and southern peninsulas of Coco Point and Palmetto Point.
    Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 2 July 2026
Noun
  • But these capes are actually flexible antennae that will allow the craft to peer beneath the Red Planet's surface in search of water ice.
    Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Faena staff in luxurious red capes circled around them, serving light bites and cold martinis.
    Kenneal Patterson, Vanity Fair, 30 July 2026
Noun
  • The promontories rising on each side of the Strait of Gibraltar are known as the Pillars of Hercules.
    Elizabeth Fernandez, Big Think, 4 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Headlands.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headlands. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on headlands

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster