headlands

Definition of headlandsnext
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

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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 Wind gusts will be particularly strong along windward ridges and exposed coastal headlands. Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 1 Jan. 2026 Climb to the top of the Astoria Column to take in the lay of the land, with panoramic views of headlands, forests, and waterways. Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 29 Nov. 2025 Various ideas were proposed during the past three years, including cobble deltas that would mimic conditions at Lower Trestles and mini headlands. Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 25 Nov. 2025 Throughout the year, beachgoers enjoy its rocky coves and expansive sand, as well as the cliffs and headlands that preside over its shorelines. Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2025 The mud can be thigh-deep or worse; the scrambles up and over vertical headlands, sometimes assisted by a greasy rope, are exhausting and sometimes terrifying. Alex Hutchinson, Outside, 10 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headlands
Noun
  • Observers in Greenland's Scoresby Sund, Iceland's Reykjanes and Snæfellsnes peninsulas, and the Spanish cities of Leon, Burgos and Valladolid will be within the path and see the sun's ghostly corona.
    Jamie Carter, Space.com, 4 Jan. 2026
  • North Country National Scenic Trail spans eight states, including more than 1,100 miles in Michigan through urban and rural areas in the upper and lower peninsulas.
    Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 10 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • Soon his parents and older sister arrive from the air, trailing rainbows behind their colorful capes.
    Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2026
  • The village, famous for its Christmas markets selling South Tyrolean gifts and with artisans at work, is also known for the Moessmer textile factory, founded in 1894, where coats and capes are made from loden (the typical Tyrolean fabric).
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Headlands.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headlands. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.

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