Synonyms of headlong

headlong 1 of 2

adjective

ˈhed-ˌlȯŋ 

as in hurried

acting or done with excessive or careless speed

terrified forest creatures in a headlong retreat from the rapidly spreading fire

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hurried
• rushed
• impulsive
• reckless
• precipitous
• sudden
• hasty
• rash
• overhasty
• pell-mell
• flying
• cursory
• precipitate
• rapid
• helter-skelter
• swift
• makeshift
• drive-by
• quick
• spontaneous
• abrupt
• impetuous
• rush
• gadarene
• breakneck
• breathtaking
• madcap
• impatient
• impromptu
• speedy
• heady
• unadvised
• headstrong
• hotheaded
• slapdash
• horseback
• spur-of-the-moment
• snap
• offhand
• off-the-cuff
• offhanded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deliberate
• unhurried
• calculated
• measured
• calculating
• prolonged
• circumspect
• unrushed
• tentative
• long-term
• extended
• slow
• hesitant
• leisurely
• foresighted
• faltering
• hesitating
• forethoughtful
• laggard
• drawn-out
• dallying
• poky
• dawdling
• shilly-shallying

headlong

2 of 2

adverb

ˈhed-ˈlȯŋ 

1

as in hastily

with excessive or careless speed

plunged headlong into the crowd in pursuit of the purse snatcher

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hastily
• hurriedly
• impulsively
• precipitately
• rashly
• precipitously
• hotfoot
• cursorily
• headfirst
• pell-mell
• on the spur of the moment
• automatically
• recklessly
• impetuously
• impatiently
• abruptly
• headily
• haphazardly
• suddenly
• spontaneously
• thoughtlessly
• glancingly
• hotheadedly
• offhandedly
• impromptu
• offhand

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deliberately
• designedly
• circumspectly
• slowly
• tentatively
• haltingly
• hesitantly
• hesitatingly
• leisurely
• studiedly
• falteringly
• calculatingly

2

as in immediately

without delay

had barely finished the last project when we went headlong into the next one

Synonyms & Similar Words

• immediately
• promptly
• instantly
• directly
• now
• right
• away
• incontinently
• quickly
• straightaway
• at once
• forthwith
• suddenly
• bang
• straightway
• shortly
• right away
• soon
• on the spot
• right off
• instantaneously
• off the bat
• on the double
• straight off
• in no time
• right now
• instanter
• presently
• swiftly
• abruptly
• rapidly
• plumb
• on a dime
• PDQ
• pronto
• fast
• momentarily
• swift
• freely
• briskly
• quick
• impetuously
• hastily
• recklessly
• apace
• speedily
• unexpectedly
• rashly
• fleetly
• readily
• impulsively
• presto
• opportunely
• posthaste
• anon
• punctually
• seasonably
• full tilt
• snappily
• exactly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• slowly
• late
• tardily

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective headlong contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of headlong are abrupt, impetuous, precipitate, and sudden. While all these words mean "showing undue haste or unexpectedness," headlong stresses rashness and lack of forethought.

a headlong flight from arrest

When is abrupt a more appropriate choice than headlong?

The synonyms abrupt and headlong are sometimes interchangeable, but abrupt stresses curtness and a lack of warning or ceremony.

an abrupt refusal

In what contexts can impetuous take the place of headlong?

While the synonyms impetuous and headlong are close in meaning, impetuous stresses extreme impatience or impulsiveness.

an impetuous lover proposing marriage

Where would precipitate be a reasonable alternative to headlong?

In some situations, the words precipitate and headlong are roughly equivalent. However, precipitate stresses lack of due deliberation and implies prematureness of action.

the army's precipitate withdrawal

When would sudden be a good substitute for headlong?

The words sudden and headlong are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sudden stresses unexpectedness and sharpness or violence of action.

flew into a sudden rage

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of headlong

Adjective

The real threat to Americans is our headlong rush toward normalizing blatant murder, whether that be of nameless occupants of motorboats in the Caribbean, schoolgirls in Iran or United States citizens in the streets of Minneapolis. — Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026

Too often, assessment results plunge educators headlong into a flood of data, but leave them with a drought of actionable next steps. — Richard Carranza, Forbes.com, 18 Feb. 2026

Adverb

Reese’s relentless work on the offensive glass runs headlong into Golden State’s small-ball identity – a style built on pace, spacing and 3-and-D versatility. — Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 25 June 2026

Hello and welcome to Regulator, an email for Verge subscribers about technology, politics, and what happens when science crashes headlong into self-interest. — Tina Nguyen, The Verge, 17 June 2026

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!