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
Tesla sales have been facing headwinds in Europe — including in the Netherlands — in the last couple of years.
—
CBS News, 11 Apr. 2026
Those will be difficult headwinds for Whatley to combat, Bitzer and Roberts both said, especially since members of the sitting president’s party already tend to be at a disadvantage in competitive midterm elections.
—Mary Ramsey
april 9, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026
Delta executives noted severe weather, the conflict in the Middle East, and pilot contract complications as headwinds this quarter.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2026
The party of the sitting president nearly always faces political headwinds in midterm elections, when the president is not on the ballot and the opposing party is generally more motivated to go to the polls.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for headwind
CBS News, 11 Apr. 2026
Those will be difficult headwinds for Whatley to combat, Bitzer and Roberts both said, especially since members of the sitting president’s party already tend to be at a disadvantage in competitive midterm elections.
—Mary Ramsey
april 9, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026
Delta executives noted severe weather, the conflict in the Middle East, and pilot contract complications as headwinds this quarter.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2026
The party of the sitting president nearly always faces political headwinds in midterm elections, when the president is not on the ballot and the opposing party is generally more motivated to go to the polls.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for headwind
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headwind
wind
Noun
-
The flags stood straight out in the stiff wind.—
Jan Wagner,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Damaging winds over 60mph will be the biggest threat.—
Mary Ours,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Headwind.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headwind. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
