heady

[hed-ee]

adjective

headier, headiest 

1. intoxicating.

   a heady wine.

2. affecting the mind or senses greatly.

   heady perfume.

3. exciting; exhilarating.

   the heady news of victory.

   Synonyms: stirring, thrilling
   Antonyms: disappointing, depressing

4. rashly impetuous.

   heady conduct.

5. violent; destructive.

   heady winds.

6. clever; shrewd.

   a heady scheme to win the election.

heady

/ ˈhɛdɪ /

adjective

1. (of alcoholic drink) intoxicating

2. strongly affecting the mind or senses; extremely exciting

3. rash; impetuous

Other Word Forms

• headiness noun
• headily adverb
• overheadiness noun
• overheady adjective
• unheady adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of heady¹

First recorded in 1350–1400, heady is from the Middle English word hevedy, hedy. See head, -y ¹

Example Sentences

In these heady times, stupidity isn’t getting punished by markets any more than fraud.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Great British Chefs specified that tonka’s “most distinctive feature” is their “enormous potency — heady vanilla flavours, with oily clove aromas, and perfumed magnolia, sandalwood notes.”

Read more on Salon

Her connection with Hechinger is palpable, heady and heated, despite their characters’ differences, and it’s nice to see Hechinger in a more adult, romantic role, even as Skinner falls prey to his own demons.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A heady mix of oxygen, Pringles and jelly beans helped propel Kirsty to the "death zone", where oxygen levels are insufficient to support human life, and the summit.

Read more on BBC

Topshop's popularity peaked in the heady years before the cost of living crisis.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• exciting 
• exhilarating 
• potent