You immediately rushed headlong into it!
Source: tatoeba (1671742)
Headlong
/ˈhɛd.lɒŋ/
Synonyms for "headlong" (150 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (30)
Adjective(2 words)
a corps perduabruptabruptlyaccident proneaccident-proneagilebluffboldbrashbreakneckbreathlesscarelesscarelesslydaredevildaringdashingdesperatedesperatelydevil-may-caredouble quick
Show 7 more words
Noun(1 words)
Strong matches (45)
fleetflyingfoolhardyfoolishfuriousfuriouslygallopinghair triggerhair-triggerhappen what mayharum scarumharum-scarumhastilyhastyhead over heelsheadfirstheadforemostheedlesslyheels over headhelter skelter
Show 19 more words
helter-skelterholus bolusholus-bolushotheadedhotheadedlyhurriedhurriedlyhurry scurryhurry-scurryhustlingimpatientimpetuousimpetuouslyimprovidentimpulsiveimpulsivelylight footedlight of heellight-footed
Adjective(5 words)
Adverb(1 words)
Related words (75)
like crazylike madlivelymadmadlymercurialnerve-shatteringnimblenimble footednimble-footedovereagerovereagerlyoverenthusiasticoverenthusiasticallyoverhastyoverzealousoverzealouslypantingpassionateplunging
Show 47 more words
precipitantprecipitantlyprecipitateprecipitatelyprecipitousprecipitouslypromptquickquick as lightningquick as thoughtquicklyramble-scramblerapidrashrashlyrecklessrecklesslyrunningrushingsharpsheershockingslam bangslam-bangslap-bangslapdashsnappyspankingspeedystartlingsteepsuddensuddenlysurprisingswiftunanticipatedunexpectedunforeseenunlooked forunlooked-forunpredictedverticalwantonwantonlywildwildlywinged
Adverb(2 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: headfirst, a corps perdu, abrupt, abruptly, accident prone.
- Sentence evidence is available for headlong, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "headlong".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "headlong"
Keep "headlong" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "headlong" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "headlong", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "headlong" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
7 entriesMore specific
10 entriescarelesslyfoolhardy moveheadfirstheadlong diveheadlong plungenosefirstrash actrashlyreckless decisionrecklessly
Collocations
9 entriesheadlong actionheadlong diveheadlong flightheadlong into dangerheadlong into reformheadlong into the marketheadlong plungeheadlong rushheadlong sprint
Inflections
2 entriesmore headlongmost headlong
Derivations
1 entriessimilar
2 entriesSample sentences
21 total sentences available.
Mugabe's regime did not so much slide as plunge headlong into kleptocracy.
Source: tatoeba (2047269)
When a thunderstorm suddenly came out of the blue, she jumped abruptly out of the hammock and ran headlong into the house where she stopped short, remembering suddenly that she had no lightning rod, and because she realized at once that this sudden onrush of a thunderstorm could end her life before she could say Jack Robinson, she became sore afraid.
Source: tatoeba (2275608)
The car went out of control and pitched headlong into the river.
Source: tatoeba (2820665)
Showing 4 of 21 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "headlong"?
Closest matches include headfirst, a corps perdu, abrupt, abruptly, accident prone.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "headlong"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.