Choose the Right Synonym for swift

Adjective

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 swift in a Sentence

Adjective a swift and accurate response the sleekest, swiftest boat ever to have sailed in the regatta Adverb tried to cross the swift-flowing river

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Leaders should take swift action in circumstances that can be handled in the short term and develop a plan for areas that require more planning and budgetary approval. — Niki Jorgensen, Forbes, 5 May 2022 All of the swift action decisive in his ultimate recovery. — Rachel Scott, ABC News, 4 May 2022 Almond was impressed with the police response, the investigation at the scene and the swift action by his fellow good Samaritans. — Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Apr. 2022 That's why mayors across the United States are calling on Congress to take swift action to address the coming hunger cliff. — CNN, 26 Apr. 2022 The decertification suggestion was met by swift criticism from members of both parties. — Adam Brewster, CBS News, 1 Mar. 2022 The effort drew swift criticism for historical mistakes. — Jocelyn Gecker, USA TODAY, 16 Feb. 2022 The effort drew swift criticism for historical mistakes. — Jocelyn Gecker, chicagotribune.com, 16 Feb. 2022 The effort drew swift criticism for historical mistakes. — NBC News, 16 Feb. 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb That trip was referenced in the whistle-blower complaint that sparked the House’s swift-moving impeachment inquiry. — Jennifer Jacobs, Time, 17 Oct. 2019 As of Monday, Golden Police Chief Bill Kilpatrick and Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Schrader are restricting water activities on Clear Creek because of swift-moving water and floating debris. — Kirk Mitchell, The Denver Post, 1 July 2019 By The Numbers 5 The forecast for Colorado’s 2019 whitewater rafting season: Rad, thanks to epic snowfall this winter that will likely spell swift-moving rivers. — Joe Nguyen, The Denver Post, 19 June 2019 The forecast for Colorado’s 2019 whitewater rafting season: Rad, thanks to epic snowfall this winter that will likely spell swift-moving rivers. — Brittany Anas, The Know, 18 June 2019 The Trump Administration’s swift-moving plan to promote 5G networks is running into resistance from the weather-forecasting community. — Drew Fitzgerald, WSJ, 14 May 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Before any official investigation or court ruling, the home minister of the state, Madhya Pradesh, appeared to fault the Muslims and ordered demolitions — the same swift, one-sided punishments imposed in two other states over recent clashes. — New York Times, 11 May 2022 Using technology, their governments initiated a swift and all-encompassing societal response and people complied. — Martin Rand, Forbes, 26 Apr. 2022 Guy Lafleur, the swift-skating Canadiens winger whose scoring prowess helped preserve Montreal’s National Hockey League dynasty throughout the 1970s, has died at 70. — Washington Post, 22 Apr. 2022 In the last two weeks, Hillsong has lost nine of its 16 American church campuses, a swift and stunning decline for one of the world’s largest and most influential evangelical churches. — New York Times, 29 Mar. 2022 The state of Georgia updated its COVID-19 online dashboard on Monday for the first time in five days after technical challenges halted daily reports amid the swift-moving omicron wave. — J. Scott Trubey, ajc, 11 Jan. 2022 Enjoy the thrills—without the uphills—with Damascus Bike Rentals’ shuttle service, which takes cyclists up to the path’s highest point, Whitetop, for a swift, mostly downhill 34-mile ride back to the Abingdon start. — Stephanie Vermillion, Outside Online, 11 Mar. 2022 But Lee’s mother, Nan, who’s eventually won over, is at first visibly concerned and perhaps a bit disappointed about the swift, reality show engagement. — NBC News, 11 Mar. 2022 Lentink’s team of undergraduate students then developed a drone whose design is based on the swift’s flying behavior. — Manasee Wagh, Popular Mechanics, 11 Mar. 2022 See More

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