Synonyms of headwind

headwind

noun

as in wind

an air movement that is blowing toward something (such as a ship or an airplane) as it moves forward

Stiff headwinds caused the flight to take longer than expected.

Related Words

• wind
• air
• gale
• blow
• breath
• breeze
• westerly
• southeaster
• northeaster
• norther
• puff
• flurry
• current
• blast
• zephyr
• whiff
• northwester
• southwester
• waft
• sea breeze
• windstorm
• draft
• tornado
• squall
• tempest
• airflow

Dissimilar Words

• tailwind
• calm

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of headwind

Still, the Smithsonian has never been impervious to political headwinds either. — Kelsey Ables, The Atlantic, 23 July 2026

Florida’s Congressional District 20 has faced political headwinds in the middle of a key election year after a mid-year redistricting process that changed the demographics of the historically Black congressional district. — Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026

Facing those headwinds, presidents typically hang back and let candidates run their own races in their own districts. — Tamara Keith, NPR, 22 July 2026

Republicans are facing headwinds heading into November, as the party in power typically loses seats in the midterm elections. — Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 22 July 2026