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.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of headwind
The Peacock mockumentary follows the staff of a local newspaper in Toledo, Ohio, that's facing financial and cultural headwinds.
—
September 12, NPR, 12 Sep. 2025
The sudden shutdown comes as another ominous sign of significant struggles in the entertainment eco-system, particularly in Hollywood where the economy has faced headwinds ranging from natural disasters to labor strikes.
—William Earl, Variety, 4 Sep. 2025
What's Next The government faces steep socioeconomic and cultural headwinds that have frustrated other nations, and whether ending the two-child policy will make a significant difference on the trend remains uncertain.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
There’s also been a revolving door of chief executive officers, activist pressures and macroeconomic headwinds.
—David Moin, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for headwind
September 12, NPR, 12 Sep. 2025
The sudden shutdown comes as another ominous sign of significant struggles in the entertainment eco-system, particularly in Hollywood where the economy has faced headwinds ranging from natural disasters to labor strikes.
—William Earl, Variety, 4 Sep. 2025
What's Next The government faces steep socioeconomic and cultural headwinds that have frustrated other nations, and whether ending the two-child policy will make a significant difference on the trend remains uncertain.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
There’s also been a revolving door of chief executive officers, activist pressures and macroeconomic headwinds.
—David Moin, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for headwind
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headwind
wind
Noun
-
Tropical weather experts at Colorado State University (CSU) echo these predictions, saying overall atmospheric conditions, including wind patterns, will shift in a manner that supports a notable increase in activity.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Looking at individual share moves, wind energy developer Orsted shares fell more than 1% after the company revealed efforts to clinch new capital at a deep discount.—
Ryan Browne,Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Headwind.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headwind. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share