headwind
noun
head·wind
ˈhed-ˌwind 
plural headwinds
1
: a wind having the opposite general direction to a course of movement (as of an aircraft)
2
: a force or influence that inhibits progress
Power-plant construction is facing headwinds in the U.S. as renewable energy projects and slack demand throw the economics of new generators into question.—
Thomas Black
Thomas BlackFor generations, the tribe has been leaning into cultural headwinds to preserve a language on the brink of extinction.—Kevin Simpson
Kevin SimpsonThe plan faces political headwinds from both sides of the aisle …—Heidi M. Przybyla
Heidi M. PrzybylaExamples of headwind in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Despite economic headwinds and slowing growth, Xi is driving forward, not struggling with indecision, as suggested by peak China advocates.
—Evan S. Medeiros, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
Some of those headwinds are self-inflicted including: Musk's erratic behavior, his management of the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter and safety questions and delays around the company's Full Self Driving technology.
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 23 Apr. 2024
In defending the company's performance, Musk and other executives pointed to broader challenges in the EV industry, as well as headwinds like an arson attack at Tesla's Berlin plant and the cost of launching the Cybertruck.
—Camila Domonoske, NPR, 23 Apr. 2024
Chief among them: Can Ellison transform Paramount, which is weighted down in debt and facing many of the same headwinds as other legacy companies with aging linear TV and cable assets, into a new and successful future?
—Stacy Perman, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2024
Diageo has already felt the chill of headwinds buffeting the wider luxury sector.
—Angus MacKinnon, CNN, 13 Apr. 2024
The company has also had to deal with corporate headwinds.
—Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 26 Mar. 2024
The new headwinds, in the form of lawsuit probes, add to the pressure Apple was already facing in China before.
—Sunny Nagpaul, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2024
And governments play a role too, in helping these companies navigate significant macroeconomic and geopolitical headwinds.
—Fang Ruan, Fortune Asia, 20 Mar. 2024
Evan S. Medeiros, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
Some of those headwinds are self-inflicted including: Musk's erratic behavior, his management of the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter and safety questions and delays around the company's Full Self Driving technology.
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 23 Apr. 2024
In defending the company's performance, Musk and other executives pointed to broader challenges in the EV industry, as well as headwinds like an arson attack at Tesla's Berlin plant and the cost of launching the Cybertruck.
—Camila Domonoske, NPR, 23 Apr. 2024
Chief among them: Can Ellison transform Paramount, which is weighted down in debt and facing many of the same headwinds as other legacy companies with aging linear TV and cable assets, into a new and successful future?
—Stacy Perman, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2024
Diageo has already felt the chill of headwinds buffeting the wider luxury sector.
—Angus MacKinnon, CNN, 13 Apr. 2024
The company has also had to deal with corporate headwinds.
—Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 26 Mar. 2024
The new headwinds, in the form of lawsuit probes, add to the pressure Apple was already facing in China before.
—Sunny Nagpaul, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2024
And governments play a role too, in helping these companies navigate significant macroeconomic and geopolitical headwinds.
—Fang Ruan, Fortune Asia, 20 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'headwind.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Headwind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/headwind. Accessed 3 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
headwind
noun
head·wind
-ˌwind
: a wind blowing in a direction opposite to a course of movement (as of a ship or aircraft)
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