Synonyms of haste

haste

noun

ˈhāst 

1

as in speed

a high rate of movement or performance

made haste to get there on time

Synonyms & Similar Words

• speed
• velocity
• hurry
• rate
• swiftness
• quickness
• celerity
• rapidity
• pace
• fleetness
• speediness
• acceleration
• rapidness
• fastness
• gait
• rush
• tempo
• alacrity
• clip
• hastiness
• expedition
• hustle
• promptness
• precipitation
• promptitude
• dispatch
• drive
• precipitousness
• expeditiousness
• warp speed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• slowness
• lethargy
• reluctance
• sluggishness
• languor
• torpor
• torpidity
• deliberation
• deliberateness
• languidness
• procrastination
• leisureliness
• lateness
• dilatoriness
• pokiness

2

as in hustle

excited and often showy or disorderly speed

haste makes waste

in her haste, she forgot her keys

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hustle
• rush
• hurry
• hastiness
• precipitation
• scramble
• speed
• precipitousness
• bustle
• scurry
• swiftness
• dash
• scuttle
• stampede
• stir
• impulsiveness
• quickness
• flutter
• beeline
• rapidity
• flurry
• velocity
• expedition
• rashness
• impetuosity
• impulsivity
• celerity
• promptness
• promptitude
• impetuousness
• dispatch
• whirl
• fleetness
• speediness
• hotheadedness
• expeditiousness
• rapidness
• fastness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deliberation
• slowness
• deliberateness
• procrastination
• lateness
• lethargy
• inertia
• inaction
• languor
• dilatoriness
• sluggishness
• torpor
• inactivity
• inertness
• pokiness
• quiescence
• dormancy
• leisureliness

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun haste contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of haste are dispatch, expedition, hurry, and speed. While all these words mean "quickness in movement or action," haste applies to personal action and implies urgency and precipitancy and often rashness.

marry in haste

How are the words expedition and dispatch related as synonyms of haste?

Expedition and dispatch both imply speed and efficiency in handling affairs but expedition stresses ease or efficiency of performance and dispatch stresses promptness in concluding matters.

the case came to trial with expedition

paid bills with dispatch

When could hurry be used to replace haste?

The words hurry and haste are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, hurry often has a strong suggestion of agitated bustle or confusion.

in the hurry of departure she forgot her toothbrush

When can speed be used instead of haste?

The words speed and haste can be used in similar contexts, but speed suggests swift efficiency in movement or action.

exercises to increase your reading speed

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of haste

Building such an unusual church has been a famously slow project, even in a country where, to American eyes, many things move without haste. —D. T. Max, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025

The hope was that a quick jolt of stimulus (delivered without haste) could stir an economic recovery. —Robert Goulder, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025

Whether fast-spreading, painful to touch, or quick to climb up your other plants, these weeds all need removal with haste. —Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Aug. 2025

As a stunned Lichaj initially stumbled to the ground in the penalty area, in his haste to celebrate, Forest’s then caretaker manager Gary Brazil was captured by the television cameras simply giggling to himself in disbelief. —Max Mathews, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025