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headlong

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adverb

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

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 headlong
Adjective
The headlong rush to launch MVPs can mean skipping meaningful user validation, ethical vetting and technical hardening. Paresh Sagar, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025 This momentary pause, this saving interruption of the headlong, breathless trajectory of rape or murder, admitted a kind of compassion, pity, even tenderness, halting injustice in its tracks. Sarah Beckwith, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
Adverb
Episode 4 finds both Ellen and Julia throwing themselves headlong into plans that require them to keep up major ruses. Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 22 Aug. 2025 That idea runs headlong into the danger of seemingly conscious AI. Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for headlong
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headlong
Adjective
  • Elsewhere, the details lifted from the book suffer in translation – Branagh’s Victor is appropriately arrogant but not adequately tortured; De Niro’s Monster is sensitive and intuitive, but drowns in the film’s hurried, hollow second half.
    Rory Doherty, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Carter had to make a hurried Middle East trip – including a speech to the Knesset – before the two nations formally signed a treaty some six months hence.
    Carl Leubsdorf, Mercury News, 15 Oct. 2025
Adverb
  • The revelation that the tattoo had been hastily covered up is just the latest bizarre twist that the high-stakes Senate race had taken in just the past 10 days.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2025
  • On July 7, 1971, Courson and a few others hastily buried Morrison in a place he was said to have loved, Père Lachaise, before going public.
    David Kushner, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2025
Adverb
  • The magnitude of the attack and the extent of its damage was not immediately known.
    Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2025
  • The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
    Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Our poor Toby, always so stressed, always so rushed.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
  • These alternatives can often provide a richer, less rushed experience than a whirlwind day trip to Paris.
    David Nikel, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Adverb
  • But as rumors swirled that the gang was on its way to launch another assault, merchants in the market could be seen hurriedly packing their goods.
    Ychmuth Corneille, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2025
  • Book influencers and everyday readers lined up hurriedly to take photos with Aster and get their manuscripts signed.
    Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
Adverb
  • Willow begins to whimper, and backs away from the door—but sits promptly down, still staring at it.
    Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Trump’s Securities and Exchange Commission promptly put on hold a case against the crypto billionaire Justin Sun.
    Evan Hughes, The Atlantic, 20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • These biases can lead to impulsive decisions like following trends, holding losing stocks too long, or ignoring cautionary advice.
    Chris Stevens, Nashville Tennessean, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Owner Woody Johnson is known for being impulsive and impatient, two things that wouldn't be in the head coach's favor.
    Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
Adverb
  • After attending the Bluebird show, Walker Hayes impulsively invited McAnally to join him on his fall tour.
    Nancy Kruh, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
  • After a dust-up with Ted over the local grocery store’s adherence to the state’s mask mandate, Joe impulsively announces his rival candidacy for mayor of Eddington, and tensions eventually boil over to the point of deadly violence.
    Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 10 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Headlong.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headlong. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.

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