Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

headlong

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of headlong

acting or done with excessive or careless speed

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

cursory, drive-by, flying, gadarene, hasty, helter-skelter, hurried, overhasty, pell-mell, precipitate, precipitous, rash, rushed
Words Related to headlong

breakneck, breathtaking

headstrong, heady, hotheaded, impatient, impetuous, impulsive, madcap, reckless, unadvised

quick, rapid, speedy, swift

horseback, impromptu, makeshift, offhand, offhanded, off-the-cuff, rush, slapdash, snap, spontaneous, spur-of-the-moment

abrupt, sudden
Near Antonyms of headlong

calculated, calculating, measured

circumspect, foresighted, forethoughtful

drawn-out, extended, long-term, prolonged

faltering, hesitant, hesitating, tentative

dallying, dawdling, laggard, leisurely, poky (or pokey), shilly-shallying, slow
Antonyms of headlong

deliberate, unhurried, unrushed

Synonym Discussion of headlong

precipitate, headlong, abrupt, impetuous, sudden mean showing undue haste or unexpectedness. precipitate stresses lack of due deliberation and implies prematureness of action.
    • the army's precipitate withdrawal
headlong stresses rashness and lack of forethought.
    • a headlong flight from arrest
abrupt stresses curtness and a lack of warning or ceremony.
    • an abrupt refusal
impetuous stresses extreme impatience or impulsiveness.
    • an impetuous lover proposing marriage
sudden stresses unexpectedness and sharpness or violence of action.
    • flew into a sudden rage

headlong

adverb

Synonyms and Antonyms of headlong

1 with excessive or careless speed

  • plunged headlong into the crowd in pursuit of the purse snatcher
Synonyms of headlong

cursorily, hastily, hotfoot, hurriedly, pell-mell, precipitately, precipitously, rashly
Words Related to headlong

headfirst, headily, hotheadedly, impatiently, impetuously, impulsively, recklessly, thoughtlessly

automatically, glancingly, haphazardly

impromptu, spontaneously

abruptly, suddenly

offhand, offhandedly
Phrases Synonymous with headlong

on the spur of the moment
Near Antonyms of headlong

calculatingly, circumspectly, designedly

falteringly, haltingly, hesitantly, hesitatingly, tentatively

leisurely, slowly
Antonyms of headlong

deliberately, studiedly

2 without delay

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

bang, directly, forthwith, immediately, incontinently, instantaneously, instanter, instantly, now, PDQ, plumb, presently, promptly, pronto, right, right away, right now, right off, straight off, straightaway, straightway
Words Related to headlong

away, freely

anon, momentarily, shortly, soon

apace, briskly, fast, fleetly, full-tilt, posthaste, quick, quickly, rapidly, readily, snappily, speedily, swift, swiftly

abruptly, presto, suddenly, unexpectedly

hastily, impetuously, impulsively, rashly, recklessly

exactly, opportunely, punctually, seasonably
Phrases Synonymous with headlong

at once, in no time, off the bat, on a dime, on the double, on the spot
Near Antonyms of headlong

slowly

late, tardily

Learn More about headlong

  1. See words that rhyme with headlong Dictionary: Definition of headlong Spanish Central: Translation of headlong Nglish: Translation of headlong for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up headlong? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games