Definitions

head-on

[hed-on, -awn] / ˈhɛdˈɒn, -ˈɔn /

ADJECTIVE

direct

Synonyms

STRONGEST

immediate person-to-person personal

STRONG

lineal prompt succeeding

WEAK

contiguous firsthand next primary proximate resultant

Antonyms

WEAK

changing deviating devious dishonest indirect intermittent interrupted varying wily

ADVERB

bang

Synonyms

STRONGEST

smack

STRONG

straight

WEAK

abruptly hard headlong noisily precisely suddenly

Antonyms

WEAK

slowly

ADVERB

directly

Synonyms

STRONGEST

candidly honestly openly personally

WEAK

in person literally plainly point-blank truthfully unequivocally verbatim without prevarication word for word

Antonyms

WEAK

indirectly

ADVERB

headfirst

Synonyms

STRONGEST

directly headlong

NOUN

collision

Synonyms

STRONG

blow bump butt concussion contact crash destruction dilapidation encounter hit impact jar jolt knock percussion pileup rap ruin shock sideswipe slam smash strike thud thump wreck

WEAK

demolishment fender bender

Antonyms

STRONG

avoidance building compliment construction creation failure flattery loss praise

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.

It’s turned into an all too familiar ritual: college sports dancing around an eventuality, instead of proactively tackling the hardest parts head-on.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026

He was upbeat, he was meeting his wife's circumstances head-on.

From BBC • May 17, 2026

Indeed, Slavin said one of the risks of rushing head-on into a fully fibermaxxed diet is the potential for bloating and other stomach trouble, which could make people give up on longer-term consumption habits.

From MarketWatch • May 10, 2026

Barbut's office said it "chose not to address the climate issue head-on because the United States' positions on this subject are well known".

From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026

Not directly, but coming at it sideways, up and down, around, not head-on, direct.

From "Towers Falling" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

head-on

Example Sentences

Related Words