BREAKNECK Synonyms: 64 Similar and Opposite Words

breakneck

adjective

ˈbrāk-ˈnek

Definition of breakneck

as in rapid

moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed the breakneck production of naval vessels during World War II

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 breakneck Transferring in from Tennessee, the program currently defining the tempo genre, Jackson is well-acquainted with playing football at a breakneck pace. — Zach Osterman, The Indianapolis Star, 28 Jan. 2023 Some may be duplicates, but regardless, twisters have been swarming the South at breakneck pace. — Matthew Cappucci, Ben Brasch and Scott Dance, Anchorage Daily News, 25 Jan. 2023 The suspenseful ‘Missing’ plows through nearly two hours of shocking plot twists at a breakneck pace. — Mark Olsenstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2023 However, their days of breakneck growth and extraordinary profitability are over, now a part of history along with China’s whole go-go consumer tech era. — Zennon Kapron, Forbes, 10 Nov. 2022 See All Example Sentences for breakneck

Recent Examples of Synonyms for breakneck

Adjective

Although modest today, Great Falls was substantial for its time and reflects rapid advances in turbine and generator engineering during the early twentieth century.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2026
The trend cycle in beauty is rapid, but there’s not one identifiable aesthetic dominating the present moment.

— Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of rapid

Adjective

The problem, of course, is that this newfound speed arrived in a world whose lighting technology had not quite caught up with the idea of vehicles moving at more than a brisk trot.

— Matthew MacConnell, ArsTechnica, 3 Aug. 2026
Sales have been brisk for state lottery games after a brief period where inflation apparently caused consumers to dial back purchases of scratch-off tickets.

— Jim Turner, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026

Definition of brisk

Adjective

As his health faded in the last year of his life, Neruda rushed to finish his story, which gives the last chapters of his book a galloping, fragmented quality.

— Tunku Varadarajan, WSJ, 25 June 2021
Designed by renowned architect Dominique Perrault, its four stories tilting forward are said to evoke a galloping horse.

— Rob Hodgetts at Longchamp, CNN, 15 Oct. 2019

Definition of galloping

Browse Nearby Words

break-ins

breakneck

break off

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Breakneck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/breakneck. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of breakneck

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

anecdote

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes