loggerhead

noun

log·​ger·​head ˈlȯ-gər-ˌhed How to pronounce loggerhead (audio)
ˈlä-
Synonyms of loggerheadnext
1
chiefly dialectal
a
: blockhead
b
: head
especially : a disproportionately large head
2
a
: a very large chiefly carnivorous sea turtle (Caretta caretta) of subtropical and temperate waters
b
: alligator snapping turtle
3
: an iron tool consisting of a long handle terminating in a ball or bulb that is heated and used to melt tar or to heat liquids
see also:
at loggerheads

Illustration of loggerhead

Illustration of loggerhead
  • loggerhead 2a

Synonyms of loggerhead

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Examples of loggerhead in a Sentence

that loggerhead couldn't find the business end of a cow even if his life depended on it
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.
Like all sea turtle species, loggerheads are cold-blooded and rely on warm ocean temperatures. — Pat Mueller, USA Today, 16 June 2026 The Senate’s appropriations committee is at loggerheads over how much spending to authorize. — Kevin R. Kosar, The Washington Examiner, 28 June 2026 Guardiola was often at loggerheads with ground staff, though, over the length of the grass and state of the playing surfaces at the Etihad and the training ground, with the Catalan asking for things that the staff did not feel were possible. — Sam Lee, New York Times, 25 May 2026 North Carolina’s beaches are a nesting ground for multiple species of threatened or endangered sea turtles, including loggerheads, greens, Kemp’s ridleys, leatherbacks and hawksbills, federal officials say. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 1 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for loggerhead

Word History

Etymology

probably from English dialect logger block of wood + English head

First Known Use

1588, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of loggerhead was in 1588

Phrases Containing loggerhead

Rhymes for loggerhead

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Browse Nearby Words

logger
loggerhead
loggerheaded
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Cite this Entry

“Loggerhead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loggerhead. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

loggerhead

noun
log·​ger·​head ˈlȯg-ər-ˌhed How to pronounce loggerhead (audio)
ˈläg-
: any of several very large turtles
especially : a flesh-eating sea turtle of the warmer parts of the western Atlantic

More from Merriam-Webster on loggerhead

Nglish: Translation of loggerhead for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about loggerhead

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