headless

[ hed-lis ]

adjective

1. without a head.
2. having the head cut off; beheaded.
3. having no leader or chief; leaderless.
4. foolish; stupid:

   a headless argument.

ˈheadless

/ ˈhɛdlɪs /

adjective

1. without a head
2. without a leader
3. foolish or stupid
4. prosody another word for catalectic

Other Words From

• headless·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of headless¹

before 1000; Middle English he ( ve ) dles, Old English hēafodlēas. See head, -less

Example Sentences

In one corner the lanky, headless skeleton of a Quetzalcoatl appears ready to take flight.

From Los Angeles Times

Unlike the drug war in Mexico, however, there were no headless corpses hanging off bridges.

From Salon

Over the centuries, the story of the burial of English Civil War leader Oliver Cromwell's headless body at Newburgh Priory in North Yorkshire has been myth, rumour and legend.

From BBC

The Democrats had to know it was coming, and if they didn’t then they’re more headless than I thought.

From Salon

Another part of the ceremony featured a headless Marie Antoinette figure at the Conciergerie – the prison where she was held before being beheaded during the French Revolution – and was also called "satanic" by critics online.

From Salon