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
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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 headwind
In short, trading signals by senior corporate executives were a useful predictor of future stock performance when the company faced headwinds and had to trim staff.
—
D. Brian Blank,
The Conversation,
29 June 2026
In an economy that’s driven by consumption, that could pose a headwind to bringing inflation all the way to the Fed’s 2% target.
—
Catarina Saraiva,
Fortune,
28 June 2026
Republicans, who currently hold a three-seat majority in the House, will have to overcome historical headwinds to maintain their majority, a fact Johnson acknowledged to the crowd during his remarks.
—
Hailey Bullis,
The Washington Examiner,
26 June 2026
Still, the more positive findings for 2026 show that, despite geopolitical headwinds in the last six months, the industry is on a slow path to recovery, after a period of macroeconomic challenges.
—
Joe Bobowicz,
Vogue,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for headwind
D. Brian Blank,
The Conversation,
29 June 2026
In an economy that’s driven by consumption, that could pose a headwind to bringing inflation all the way to the Fed’s 2% target.
—
Catarina Saraiva,
Fortune,
28 June 2026
Republicans, who currently hold a three-seat majority in the House, will have to overcome historical headwinds to maintain their majority, a fact Johnson acknowledged to the crowd during his remarks.
—
Hailey Bullis,
The Washington Examiner,
26 June 2026
Still, the more positive findings for 2026 show that, despite geopolitical headwinds in the last six months, the industry is on a slow path to recovery, after a period of macroeconomic challenges.
—
Joe Bobowicz,
Vogue,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for headwind
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headwind
wind
Noun
-
While wind conditions around Big Bear Lake weren't necessarily high on Friday afternoon, there were reports of strong gusts in the Lucerne Valley, where there's a main SCE line that feeds BVES the majority of its power.
-
Residents may experience wind gusts of up to 40 mph.
Cite this Entry
“Headwind.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headwind. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
