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swift

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adverb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective swift contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of swift are expeditious, fast, fleet, hasty, quick, rapid, and speedy. While all these words mean "moving, proceeding, or acting with celerity," swift suggests great rapidity coupled with ease of movement.

returned the ball with one swift stroke

When can expeditious be used instead of swift?

The words expeditious and swift are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, expeditious suggests efficiency together with rapidity of accomplishment.

the expeditious handling of an order

How are the words fast and rapid related as synonyms of swift?

Both fast and rapid are very close in meaning, but fast applies particularly to the thing that moves.

fast horses

When would fleet be a good substitute for swift?

The synonyms fleet and swift are sometimes interchangeable, but fleet adds the implication of lightness and nimbleness.

fleet runners

When is hasty a more appropriate choice than swift?

The meanings of hasty and swift largely overlap; however, hasty suggests hurry and precipitousness and often connotes carelessness.

a hasty inspection

In what contexts can quick take the place of swift?

Although the words quick and swift have much in common, quick suggests promptness and the taking of little time.

a quick wit

Where would rapid be a reasonable alternative to swift?

In some situations, the words rapid and swift are roughly equivalent. However, rapid applies to the movement itself, rather than to the thing that moves.

rapid current

When could speedy be used to replace swift?

While the synonyms speedy and swift are close in meaning, speedy implies quickness of successful accomplishment and may also suggest unusual velocity.

speedy delivery of mail

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of swift
Adjective
The play runs a swift two hours, with intermission, and ends up an upbeat note of healing and friendship. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Sep. 2025 The devastation was swift and heartbreaking and resulted in one of the worst natural disasters in the area’s history. Graham Averill, Outside, 16 Sep. 2025
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 See All Example Sentences for swift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swift
Adjective
  • Potential applications include areas where both high energy storage and rapid power delivery are essential, such as electric vehicles, drones, and high-demand electronics.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.
    CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Adverb
  • The only players to reach the mark quicker than the 2024 NFL MVP are Patrick Mahomes (84 games), Dan Marino (89), Aaron Rodgers (99) and Peyton Manning and Brett Favre (106).
    Ben Morse, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2025
  • This additional layer of lateral thinking is almost never prudent, and usually serves to kill both guardians quicker (and instill a killer headache).
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Even moderate exercise, like a brisk walk, can improve your mood, sleep, and overall energy levels.
    Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Cooler temps and far less humidity than in summer make fall the ideal time to visit, and if the evenings get a bit brisk, there's always a glass of bourbon to take the chill away.
    Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 16 Sep. 2025
Adverb
  • These data centers will require plenty of energy, and, to that end, an agreement will be signed between the two governments enabling companies to build new nuclear power stations in both countries more quickly.
    Ian King, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025
  • And thanks to people like Vanessa Williams, and Silvio Horta, the creator, I was put front and center on that show kind of quickly.
    H. Alan Scott, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • As demand for electricity surged to power more electric devices in homes and Big Tech's boom in data centers, renewable energy has been the go-to source for the cheapest, fastest way to generate more juice.
    Jeff Young, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Starlink offers the fastest speeds, Hughesnet has the most affordable plans, and Viasat provides a middle ground with wide availability.
    Roxanne Downer, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025
Adverb
  • In the end, the 77th Annual Emmy Awards served as both a nostalgic tribute to television’s rich past and a clear testament to its rapidly evolving future.
    Marc Berman, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • The decades-long strategy of cramming more transistors into the same chip area is rapidly approaching its practical limits, and conventional methods may no longer deliver consistent performance gains.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 14 Sep. 2025
Adverb
  • My clients view liquidity as the ability to access funds swiftly and seamlessly, without compromising the integrity of their long-term investment strategy.
    Matthew Fleming, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Back in 2014, it was rumored that Venice would soon begin charging tourists a hefty $620 fine for dragging their suitcases through the Italian city’s historic alleys and city squares; however, city officials swiftly denied that such a law would be enacted.
    Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 18 Sep. 2025
Adverb
  • While the container comes with a month's worth of capsules, many reviewers noticed results way sooner.
    Gabriela Izquierdo, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Hannan, as a member of the Conservative Party, is not planning to defect any time soon.
    Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 17 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Swift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swift. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.

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