1
as in peninsulas
an area of high ground jutting out into a body of water beyond the line of the coast
the lighthouse, situated on a narrow, rocky headland, commands an expansive view of the coast
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in capes
an area of land that juts out into a body of water
navigation is notoriously difficult at the southernmost tip of South America, where ships must round the headland of Cape Horn
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of headlands
From bay to headlands, the Crosstown Trail slices diagonally across San Francisco in a 17-mile arc.
—
Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
The space between the headlands would be filled with nearly 1 million cubic yards of sand taken from ocean deposits.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Jan. 2026
Wind gusts will be particularly strong along windward ridges and exposed coastal headlands.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 1 Jan. 2026
Bondi Beach, Australia Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach sports a sweeping, kilometer-long curve of golden sand, between two headlands, lashed by surf waves.
—Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Dec. 2025
Climb to the top of the Astoria Column to take in the lay of the land, with panoramic views of headlands, forests, and waterways.
—Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 29 Nov. 2025
Various ideas were proposed during the past three years, including cobble deltas that would mimic conditions at Lower Trestles and mini headlands.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 25 Nov. 2025
Throughout the year, beachgoers enjoy its rocky coves and expansive sand, as well as the cliffs and headlands that preside over its shorelines.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2025
The mud can be thigh-deep or worse; the scrambles up and over vertical headlands, sometimes assisted by a greasy rope, are exhausting and sometimes terrifying.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside, 10 Sep. 2025
Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
The space between the headlands would be filled with nearly 1 million cubic yards of sand taken from ocean deposits.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Jan. 2026
Wind gusts will be particularly strong along windward ridges and exposed coastal headlands.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 1 Jan. 2026
Bondi Beach, Australia Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach sports a sweeping, kilometer-long curve of golden sand, between two headlands, lashed by surf waves.
—Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Dec. 2025
Climb to the top of the Astoria Column to take in the lay of the land, with panoramic views of headlands, forests, and waterways.
—Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 29 Nov. 2025
Various ideas were proposed during the past three years, including cobble deltas that would mimic conditions at Lower Trestles and mini headlands.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 25 Nov. 2025
Throughout the year, beachgoers enjoy its rocky coves and expansive sand, as well as the cliffs and headlands that preside over its shorelines.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2025
The mud can be thigh-deep or worse; the scrambles up and over vertical headlands, sometimes assisted by a greasy rope, are exhausting and sometimes terrifying.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside, 10 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headlands
Noun
-
Madeira’s walking paths range from high ridgelines to coastal peninsulas and levada routes that trace the island’s irrigation channels.—
Lauren Mowery,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
-
North Country National Scenic Trail spans eight states, including more than 1,100 miles in Michigan through urban and rural areas in the upper and lower peninsulas.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
18 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
And floor-length taffeta capes.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Enoch confronts the celestial hosts, all wearing capes of swastika red under an oppressive horizon of jutting lightning and glaring orange mountains.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The promontories rising on each side of the Strait of Gibraltar are known as the Pillars of Hercules.—
Elizabeth Fernandez,
Big Think,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Headlands.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headlands. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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