Synonyms of headlong

headlong 1 of 2

adjective

ˈhed-ˌlȯŋ 

as in hurried

acting or done with excessive or careless speed

terrified forest creatures in a headlong retreat from the rapidly spreading fire

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hurried
• rushed
• impulsive
• reckless
• precipitous
• sudden
• hasty
• rash
• overhasty
• pell-mell
• flying
• cursory
• precipitate
• rapid
• helter-skelter
• swift
• makeshift
• drive-by
• quick
• spontaneous
• abrupt
• impetuous
• rush
• gadarene
• breakneck
• breathtaking
• madcap
• impatient
• impromptu
• speedy
• heady
• unadvised
• headstrong
• hotheaded
• slapdash
• horseback
• spur-of-the-moment
• snap
• offhand
• off-the-cuff
• offhanded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deliberate
• unhurried
• calculated
• unrushed
• measured
• calculating
• prolonged
• circumspect
• tentative
• long-term
• extended
• slow
• hesitant
• leisurely
• foresighted
• faltering
• hesitating
• forethoughtful
• laggard
• drawn-out
• dallying
• poky
• pokey
• dawdling
• shilly-shallying

headlong

2 of 2

adverb

ˈhed-ˈlȯŋ 

1

as in hastily

with excessive or careless speed

plunged headlong into the crowd in pursuit of the purse snatcher

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hastily
• hurriedly
• impulsively
• precipitately
• rashly
• precipitously
• hotfoot
• cursorily
• headfirst
• pell-mell
• on the spur of the moment
• automatically
• recklessly
• impetuously
• impatiently
• abruptly
• headily
• haphazardly
• suddenly
• spontaneously
• thoughtlessly
• glancingly
• hotheadedly
• offhandedly
• impromptu
• offhand

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deliberately
• designedly
• circumspectly
• slowly
• tentatively
• haltingly
• hesitantly
• hesitatingly
• leisurely
• studiedly
• falteringly
• calculatingly

2

as in immediately

without delay

had barely finished the last project when we went headlong into the next one

Synonyms & Similar Words

• immediately
• promptly
• instantly
• directly
• now
• right
• away
• incontinently
• quickly
• straightaway
• at once
• forthwith
• suddenly
• bang
• straightway
• shortly
• right away
• soon
• on the spot
• right off
• instantaneously
• off the bat
• on the double
• straight off
• in no time
• right now
• instanter
• presently
• swiftly
• abruptly
• rapidly
• plumb
• on a dime
• PDQ
• pronto
• fast
• momentarily
• swift
• freely
• briskly
• quick
• impetuously
• hastily
• recklessly
• apace
• speedily
• unexpectedly
• rashly
• fleetly
• readily
• impulsively
• presto
• opportunely
• posthaste
• anon
• punctually
• seasonably
• full tilt
• snappily
• exactly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• slowly
• late
• tardily

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective headlong contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of headlong are abrupt, impetuous, precipitate, and sudden. While all these words mean "showing undue haste or unexpectedness," headlong stresses rashness and lack of forethought.

a headlong flight from arrest

When is abrupt a more appropriate choice than headlong?

The synonyms abrupt and headlong are sometimes interchangeable, but abrupt stresses curtness and a lack of warning or ceremony.

an abrupt refusal

In what contexts can impetuous take the place of headlong?

While the synonyms impetuous and headlong are close in meaning, impetuous stresses extreme impatience or impulsiveness.

an impetuous lover proposing marriage

Where would precipitate be a reasonable alternative to headlong?

In some situations, the words precipitate and headlong are roughly equivalent. However, precipitate stresses lack of due deliberation and implies prematureness of action.

the army's precipitate withdrawal

When would sudden be a good substitute for headlong?

The words sudden and headlong are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sudden stresses unexpectedness and sharpness or violence of action.

flew into a sudden rage

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of headlong

Adjective

My yell must have startled him for a second or two, and my headlong rush kept him off balance just long enough. —Howard Copenhaver, Outdoor Life, 23 Apr. 2025

While no supporter — surely — would swap any of that frenetic, headlong decade for Tottenham’s inert version of stability, glory becomes addictive. —George Caulkin, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025

Adverb

In recent months, the fight over the minimum wage has run headlong into the crisis over the city budget, which relies each year on more than $300 million in hotel tax revenue to pay for basic services such as police, firefighters and paramedics. —David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2025

The Rams are about to dive headlong into a transitional, transformative phase. —Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 2025

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