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.
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Recent Examples of headwind
Carter will face the same headwinds as her boss.
—
Diane Brady, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2026
The company faces headwinds that can make the environment feel uncertain, said Vanessa Broadhurst, executive vice president of global corporate affairs for Johnson & Johnson.
—Michael L. Diamond, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Despite market headwinds, Opsahl expects to double production in the next year.
—Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 15 Apr. 2026
There are also more systemic headwinds, compounded by the fallout from Brexit and Covid-19, that continue to squeeze British brands—and, by extension, the suppliers that use them as a business lifeline.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for headwind
Diane Brady, Fortune, 15 Apr. 2026
The company faces headwinds that can make the environment feel uncertain, said Vanessa Broadhurst, executive vice president of global corporate affairs for Johnson & Johnson.
—Michael L. Diamond, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
Despite market headwinds, Opsahl expects to double production in the next year.
—Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 15 Apr. 2026
There are also more systemic headwinds, compounded by the fallout from Brexit and Covid-19, that continue to squeeze British brands—and, by extension, the suppliers that use them as a business lifeline.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for headwind
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headwind
wind
Noun
-
The fire moved north from Oceanside Boulevard toward the El Corazon Senior Center, with wind and terrain helping fuel its spread.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
-
An icy wind blew through the buckled windows.—
Lizzie Johnson,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Headwind.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headwind. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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