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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.

The company helped spark this in part by confronting these risks head-on.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026

Using drone technology, the research team recorded sperm whales colliding head-on while also observing their surrounding social behavior.

From Science Daily • Mar. 23, 2026

Ben Wang delivers a breakthrough performance in the title role as a kid who tries to conquer his anxiety issues head-on by running for class president.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2026

A woman who lost her mum, sister and stepdad in a head-on crash says she has lost faith in the justice system after their killer was released from prison early and deported.

From BBC • Mar. 4, 2026

People gave those riders a chance to get off the bus, and they didn’t, and I’m going to face intolerance head-on as well.

From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers