heady

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈhɛdi/ UK /ˈhedi/ See IPA manual

Freq #29951

Meanings

1

adj
strongly intoxicating or affecting the senses, as a drink or scent does

The room was filled with the heady perfume of jasmine.
2

adj
exciting, exhilarating, or liable to produce overconfidence

The first days of victory were a heady mixture of relief and ambition.
3

adj
impetuous, reckless, or willful

Jekyll felt a heady recklessness as his new personality took control.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · strongly intoxicating or... intoxicatingpotent

2 adj · exciting, exhilarating, or... exhilarating thrilling stimulating

3 adj · impetuous, reckless, or... rash foolhardy impetuous

Opposites

soberingcautious restrained

Word family

Derived forms headilyheadinessoverheadyunheady

Related forms headstrong

Etymology

From Middle English hedi, formed from head + -y. Earlier senses included headstrong or impetuous; the modern intoxicating sense describes something that goes to the head, while the exhilarating sense extends that bodily effect to emotion and success.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# heady

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈhɛdi/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈhedi/
**Frequency rank:** 29951

## Meanings
1. strongly intoxicating or affecting the senses, as a drink or scent does
2. exciting, exhilarating, or liable to produce overconfidence
3. impetuous, reckless, or willful

## Examples
- The room was filled with the heady perfume of jasmine.
- The first days of victory were a heady mixture of relief and ambition.
- Jekyll felt a heady recklessness as his new personality took control.

## Synonyms
- intoxicating
- exhilarating
- potent
- rash

## Antonyms
- sobering
- cautious
- restrained

## Derived Forms
- headily
- headiness
- overheady
- unheady

## Related Forms
- headstrong

## Etymology
From Middle English hedi, formed from head + -y. Earlier senses included headstrong or impetuous; the modern intoxicating sense describes something that goes to the head, while the exhilarating sense extends that bodily effect to emotion and success.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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