1
: with the head or front making the initial contact
the cars collided head-on
2
: in direct opposition, confrontation, or contradiction
met the problem head-on
1
: having the front facing in the direction of initial contact or line of sight
a head-on collision
2
: frontal sense 2b
a head-on confrontation
Synonyms
Examples of head-on in a Sentence
Adverb
the underdog team met its more talented opponent head-on and won the hockey game through sheer grit
Recent Examples on the Web
Matthieu Aikins Bryan Denton, New York Times, 22 May 2024
Immediately after taking office, Tusk plunged into a head-on collision with the vestiges of PiS ...
—Wiktor Babinski, National Review, 18 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for head-on 
Adverb
Image The Americans wanted a partner who was unafraid to confront the Taliban head-on, like Raziq.
—Matthieu Aikins Bryan Denton, New York Times, 22 May 2024
Immediately after taking office, Tusk plunged into a head-on collision with the vestiges of PiS ...
—Wiktor Babinski, National Review, 18 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for head-on
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'head-on.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near head-on
Cite this Entry
“Head-on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/head-on. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
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