What does headstrong mean?
Word: Headstrong
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Headstrong means determined to do things your own way and unwilling to listen to advice.
How do you spell headstrong?
Syllables: head - strong
Tricky part: The short e sound at the start is written ea. Hedstrong is a frequent slip.
Watch out for: hedstrong, headstrang
Memory tip: Bread, ready and heavy all spell their short e sound with ea; keep that same pair in the first syllable here.
Headstrong in a sentence
Example 1: My headstrong younger brother insisted on carrying all the shopping bags himself.
Example 2: The headstrong goat refused to cross the little bridge until it was offered a carrot.
Example 3: Our headstrong cat insists on sleeping in the laundry basket, however often we move her.
Fun Fact
In Sheridan's 1775 play The Rivals, Mrs Malaprop calls her niece as headstrong as an allegory on the banks of the Nile, when she means an alligator; her mix-ups gave English the word malapropism.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
Our headstong little puppy refuses to walk on a lead and tugs towards every puddle in the lane.
a) puppy
b) headstong
c) puddle
d) refuses
Show answer
b) headstong. An r is needed after the t; the correct spelling is headstrong.
Word Makeup
Choose the misspelt compound word:
a) birthplace
b) handwritting
c) foothold
d) headstrong
Show answer
b) handwritting. Writing keeps a single t, so handwriting has one t; the other three compounds are correct.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters to find the word that fits the sentence:
The orsathndeg batsman paid no heed to his coach's advice and tried to hit every ball for six.
a) headstrong
b) handstand
c) headlong
d) hamstring
Show answer
a) headstrong. Headlong is two letters short, and hamstring and handstand need letters the jumble lacks, such as an m or a second n.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word headstrong as used in the sentence:
Being headstrong, Tanvi would not look at the map and took the longer path through the forest.
a) wilful
b) stubborn
c) obedient
d) obstinate
Show answer
c) obedient. A headstrong person goes her own way; an obedient person does what she is told.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which word best describes how a headstrong person treats a warning?
a) obeys it
b) repeats it
c) ignores it
d) writes it down
Show answer
c) ignores it
2. Your headstrong friend has decided to climb the hill in the rain. What will probably happen if you object?
a) She will change her plans at once.
b) She will ask you to decide for her.
c) She will go ahead anyway.
d) She will wait for the rain to stop.
Show answer
c) She will go ahead anyway.
