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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in hastily
with excessive or careless speed
plunged headlong into the crowd in pursuit of the purse snatcher
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in immediately
without delay
had barely finished the last project when we went headlong into the next one
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of headlong
Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 15 Feb. 2026
Few sectors have been transformed by that headlong rush more than global memory.
—Debby Wu, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2026
Bobby Allyn, NPR, 2 Apr. 2026
That model is now running headlong into the AI era, and the transition has presented some challenges.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for headlong
Adjective
But with Sleep No More, premiering in Berlin’s Special Midnight section this week, the director makes a headlong plunge into horror — infusing the genre with black comedy and a pointed critique of humanity’s slavish worship of capitalism.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 15 Feb. 2026
Few sectors have been transformed by that headlong rush more than global memory.
—Debby Wu, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2026
Adverb
The trio of legal actions against Illinois, Connecticut and Arizona is the furthest Trump officials have gone to try to override state laws and set the rules for a fast-growing industry that has run headlong into thorny questions about insider trading and profiting off war and suffering.
—Bobby Allyn, NPR, 2 Apr. 2026
That model is now running headlong into the AI era, and the transition has presented some challenges.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for headlong
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headlong
Adjective
-
Using chicken cutlets helps this dish cook up quickly on hurried nights.—
Jenna Sims,
Southern Living,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Then in the final seconds of the period, Merrimack turned the puck over in their own zone but Jack Galanek could not stuff his hurried shot home.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
21 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
The inner layer, known as the Sarcophagus or Shelter Object, is a steel-and-concrete shell built hastily in 1986.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Apr. 2026
-
When Janine hastily suggests amid her frustration that maybe the pair should break up, Gregory is clearly caught off guard.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
8 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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The Orange County district attorney’s office did not immediately return a message seeking comment Wednesday, nor did Yourex’s attorney.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Haaland bursts our bubble almost immediately by scoring in the opening five minutes, and Burnley miss a few good first-half chances, with striker Zian Flemming particularly culpable.—
Nnamdi Onyeagwara,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
As immigration officers arrested her six weeks ago, through tears and a rushed goodbye, Maria de Jesus Estrada Juarez had a request for her daughter.—
Mathew Miranda,
Sacbee.com,
6 Apr. 2026
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Little emphasized the need to ease property taxes in a letter accompanying his signature but criticized Moyle’s approach as rushed and overly complex.—
Mark Dee
March 25,
Idaho Statesman,
25 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Many of its fans were seen pretending to drink from them as Arsenal fans hurriedly made their way back to London.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
20 Apr. 2026
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Crews were hurriedly pumping water from a dam in Cheboygan, Michigan, this week, even removing floodgates to relieve pressure.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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Officials said Friday that water service was promptly switched off to about 75 customers shortly after the incident, but clarified Saturday that the number of customers impacted was closer to 67 households.—
Molly Gibbs,
Mercury News,
25 Apr. 2026
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The woman, whose identity has not been made public, allegedly is seen hitting the man believed to be Alexander in the back, resulting in him promptly stabbing her in the hand.—
Staff Author,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Meanwhile, today Uranus enters a part of your chart to stay for six years, encouraging impulsive vacations, surprising romance and unexpected children.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
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Flinging himself onto Berry Gordy (Larenz Tate) for a hug, the kid’s impulsive need for affection is a gut punch.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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Meanwhile, be aware that the next six years will bring urges to impulsively travel, and do exciting things to give yourself an adventurous world.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
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Self-control refers to managing one’s emotions — specifically not acting reflexively and impulsively without thinking through the consequences of one’s actions.—
Anand Kumar,
STAT,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Headlong.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headlong. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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