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
The larger American entertainment industry, which has slashed diversity programs and is currently in a period of retrenchment due to economic headwinds, has also backslid in terms of representation in the director’s chair.
—
Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
Aside from the impact of the Strait of Hormuz blockade, China is indeed facing other economic headwinds – from self-defeating price wars in its manufacturing and service sectors, to stubbornly weak domestic consumption and still-high youth employment.
—Steven Jiang, CNN Money, 13 May 2026
There are serious headwinds pushing against the IIHF World Hockey Championship ever getting its proper due here in North America.
—Chris Johnston, New York Times, 13 May 2026
Where there are headwinds, there are tailwinds.
—Sarah Davanzo, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for headwind
Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
Aside from the impact of the Strait of Hormuz blockade, China is indeed facing other economic headwinds – from self-defeating price wars in its manufacturing and service sectors, to stubbornly weak domestic consumption and still-high youth employment.
—Steven Jiang, CNN Money, 13 May 2026
There are serious headwinds pushing against the IIHF World Hockey Championship ever getting its proper due here in North America.
—Chris Johnston, New York Times, 13 May 2026
Where there are headwinds, there are tailwinds.
—Sarah Davanzo, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for headwind
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headwind
wind
Noun
-
The blaze was one of several that started amid an offshore wind event, with four fires of 1,000 acres or more currently burning in Southern California.—
Alex Wigglesworth,
Los Angeles Times,
22 May 2026
-
Skies will be mostly sunny with temperature highs near 91 degrees and winds will blow east to southeast at 5 to 10 mph with gusts as high as 20 mph.—
Garfield Hylton,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Headwind.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headwind. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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