hasty

\ ˈhā-stē

How to pronounce hasty (audio)

\

hastier; hastiest

Definition of hasty

1a : done or made in a hurry hasty city-street snapshots— R. B. Heilman

b : fast and typically superficial made a hasty examination of the wound

c archaic : rapid in action or movement : speedy

2 : acting too quickly : overly eager or impatient realized he had been hasty in quitting his job

3 : exhibiting a lack of careful thought or consideration : precipitate, rash We don't want to make any hasty decisions.

4 : prone to anger : irritable a hasty temperment

Other Words from hasty Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about hasty

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Choose the Right Synonym for hasty

fast, rapid, swift, fleet, quick, speedy, hasty, expeditious mean moving, proceeding, or acting with celerity. fast and rapid are very close in meaning, but fast applies particularly to the thing that moves fast horses and rapid to the movement itself. rapid current swift suggests great rapidity coupled with ease of movement. returned the ball with one swift stroke fleet adds the implication of lightness and nimbleness. fleet runners quick suggests promptness and the taking of little time. a quick wit speedy implies quickness of successful accomplishment speedy delivery of mail and may also suggest unusual velocity. hasty suggests hurry and precipitousness and often connotes carelessness. a hasty inspection expeditious suggests efficiency together with rapidity of accomplishment. the expeditious handling of an order

Examples of hasty in a Sentence

I made a hasty sketch of the scene. Seeing the dog, the cat made a hasty retreat up a tree. We don't want to make any hasty decisions. He later realized that he was too hasty in his decision to quit.

Recent Examples on the Web In the interim, Mr. Biden’s advisers have used public statements to caution European officials against any hasty action, and to try to persuade them of the benefits of waiting to coordinate with the new American administration. — New York Times, "China and E.U. Leaders Strike Investment Deal, but Political Hurdles Await," 30 Dec. 2020 That prompted a hasty launch of each county’s plan to vaccinate the general population. — Ryan Gillespie, orlandosentinel.com, "Florida Emergency Director Jared Moskowitz says early vaccine systems aren’t ‘meeting the moment’," 30 Dec. 2020 History teaches us to be wary of hasty declarations that the California dream is over. — Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, "Column: California isn’t ‘hemorrhaging’ people, but there are reasons for concern," 24 Dec. 2020 Denmark will dig up millions of dead mink after a hasty cull and burial intended to stamp out a coronavirus mutation ended with the rotting carcasses triggering a new contamination risk. — Morten Buttler, Fortune, "Denmark to exhume bodies of COVID-19 infected mink over contamination risk," 21 Dec. 2020 Now a hasty, last-ditch deal appears to have broken the logjam: on December 20th Congressional leaders from both parties announced a compromise package thought to cost $900bn. — The Economist, "America’s Congress agrees on a long-overdue stimulus compromise," 21 Dec. 2020 Denmark will dig up millions of dead mink after a hasty cull and burial intended to stamp out a coronavirus mutation ended with the rotting carcasses triggering a new contamination risk. — Morten Buttler, Bloomberg.com, "Denmark to Dig Up Millions of Dead Mink After Rushed Cull," 20 Dec. 2020 Former residents, too, worried that the hasty move could hurt kids struggling to find stability. — Joaquin Palomino, SFChronicle.com, "Confronted over abuse, California is bringing 116 kids home from faraway programs. Counties are scrambling," 18 Dec. 2020 Picasso seems to have painted over the background and Stein’s coat repeatedly with hasty and broad streaks. — Sandra Gutierrez G., Popular Science, "How specialized X-rays reveal Picasso’s process—and his obsession," 14 Dec. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hasty.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

15 Jan 2021

Cite this Entry

“Hasty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hasty. Accessed 16 Jan. 2021.

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More Definitions for hasty

hasty

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of hasty

: done or made very quickly

: done or made too quickly

: acting too quickly

See the full definition for hasty in the English Language Learners Dictionary

hasty

\ ˈhā-stē

\

hastier; hastiest

Kids Definition of hasty

1 : done or made in a hurry a hasty trip

2 : made, done, or decided without proper care and thought a hasty decision

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