headier; headiest
1
a
: willful, rash
heady opinions
2
a
: tending to intoxicate or make giddy or elated
heady wine
being in such distinguished company was a heady experience
b
: giddy, exhilarated
heady with his success
c
: rich
a heady sauce
a heady variety
d
: impressive
a man of heady accomplishments
3
a
: marked by or showing good judgment : shrewd, intelligent
b
: intellectually stimulating or demanding
headily adverb
headiness noun

Examples of heady in a Sentence

The plane soared to heady heights. They were heady with their newfound success.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The group became infamous for its popular rallies on school and college campuses, drawing large crowds with the heady mix of rock music and festival vibes with provocative right-wing rhetoric on race, Islam, immigration and American identity. Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2025 That strength is matched by the powerful notes the finish leaves in the liquid, which is bold, heady and complex. Andy Vasoyan, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025 That’s an admirably ambitious swing to take, but Gavras and Arbery spend a little too much time being silly to truly sell us on the headier stuff. Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025 The heady days when Merseyside was a centre of global trade may be long gone. Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for heady

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of heady was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Heady.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heady. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

heady

adjective
headier; headiest
1
2
: likely to make one giddy
heady wine
a heady height
headily adverb
headiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on heady

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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