adjective
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self-willed; obstinate
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(of an action) heedless; rash
Related Words
See willful.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of headstrong
First recorded in 1350–1400, headstrong is from the Middle English word heedstronge. See head, strong
Explanation
Headstrong describes something that's disobedient or willful. If you're headstrong, you want to do what you want to do. When you refuse to complete your homework because you want to watch a football game, you're being headstrong. A closer look at the word headstrong can give you a hint to its meaning — the combination of the words head and strong. You're determined to have your own way because you have a strong belief that your view — what you have in your head — is the best one. Being a headstrong person is not always a bad thing. Sometimes headstrong people make history because they fight traditional values or outdated rules that need to be changed.
Vocabulary lists containing headstrong
100 SAT Words Beginning with "H"
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Resistance is Futile: Synonyms for "Stubborn"
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My Brother Sam is Dead
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
We don’t yet want to say that the situation has spiraled out of control, but the spiral could be only a couple of headstrong choices away.
From Slate • Mar. 21, 2026
Douglas Century’s “Crash of the Heavens” brings to life the headstrong, charismatic heroine who was both a fearless warrior and a precocious writer.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 17, 2025
"They are incredibly headstrong people and probably saw the pitfalls of signing deals," says RWD magazine founder Dacre Bracey, who has covered grime since its inception.
From BBC • Oct. 31, 2025
The winner of senior badminton and table tennis competitions around the world, she is, at her core, an athlete — competitive, confident and, perhaps, a bit headstrong.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 29, 2025
“The girl has been thoughtless and headstrong at times. But her upbringing has been such as to encourage that.”
From "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" by Elizabeth George Speare
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
