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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of headlong
Chandler Rome, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2025
In the headlong rush for technological supremacy, strange new risks are being created.
—Billy Perrigo, Time, 27 Aug. 2025
Justin Kroll, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2025
The Broncos definitely got more buzz this offseason from all corners than in recent years and there were definitely some that jumped headlong into the deep end of the hype pool.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for headlong
Adjective
Right fielder Victor Robles, outfitted in two fluorescent armbands and pink cleats, caught the baseball with a headlong dive.
—Chandler Rome, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2025
In the headlong rush for technological supremacy, strange new risks are being created.
—Billy Perrigo, Time, 27 Aug. 2025
Adverb
Forces of good and evil collide in a terrifying film where real-world challenges crash headlong into other worldly creatures and myths.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2025
The Broncos definitely got more buzz this offseason from all corners than in recent years and there were definitely some that jumped headlong into the deep end of the hype pool.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for headlong
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headlong
Adjective
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Facing a schedule filled with hurried days, countless steps, and occasions that require outfits equal parts practical and chic?—
Nina Derwin,
Glamour,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Niccol has espoused the hopes of returning Starbucks to a cozy third space, away from the image of being a hurried pitstop to pick up a morning espresso, and toward 1990s nostalgia of lingering over a latte.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
31 Dec. 2025
Adverb
-
Protests were hastily planned in cities across the country after federal officials confirmed Wednesday that Renee Nicole Macklin Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was fatally shot during an immigration operation.—
Jamie Landers,
Dallas Morning News,
8 Jan. 2026
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The bill Newsom signed was in response to a law lawmakers hastily passed at the end of the 2024 legislative session, watering down the state’s 55-year-old landmark lemon law.—
CalMatters,
Oc Register,
29 Dec. 2025
Adverb
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The system is preloaded with a large VLA model trained specifically for the platform, enabling it to perform a broad range of autonomous manipulation tasks immediately after power-on.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Jan. 2026
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If the client hadn’t had her mesh removed, she’d be immediately transferred to Surgical Assistance.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The rushed start wasn’t the only hiccup.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
9 Dec. 2025
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The national bill – passed on the final day of parliament last year – was criticized at the time as a rushed piece of legislation conceived to win votes before the 2025 election.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
29 Nov. 2025
Adverb
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Fast-forward to them being pulled over by the side of the boarding line, having to hurriedly transfer essentials between their personal item bag and their carry-on.—
Jillian Dara,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
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In a gymnasium in the northeastern Thai city of Surin, around 550 people are waiting out the combat, many having hurriedly fled after the first shots were fired Sunday.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 Dec. 2025
Adverb
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When my mother was reunited with Aggie, my sister (a millennial, of course) filmed it and promptly posted the short clip to TikTok.—
Peter Kiefer,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Jan. 2026
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Holevich adds that cleaning these surfaces promptly will help prevent long-term staining and lingering odors.—
Kate Van Pelt,
The Spruce,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Instead of impulsive moves, energy goes toward goals that require patience and endurance.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
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That fear can contribute to impulsive decisions, overtrading, and emotional fatigue - outcomes sometimes interpreted as personal failure rather than a response to the way risk is structured.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
5 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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Seeking revenge, Onimaru impulsively picks up a demonic sword in a shortcut to power, setting off a grand adventure.—
Kambole Campbell,
Vulture,
9 Dec. 2025
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After spending weeks volunteering at her local nursing home, Angela can’t help but sympathize with her former father-in-law and impulsively decides to move him into her home with Tommy.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
7 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Headlong.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headlong. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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