having or showing the ability to respond without delay or hesitation
- a company that is well-regarded for its expeditious handling of any request or complaint
- breakneck,
- breathless,
- brisk,
- fast,
- fleet,
- fleet-footed,
- hit-and-run,
- lightning,
- rapid,
- rapid-fire,
- rattling,
- snappy,
- speedy,
- swift,
- whirlwind
- crawling,
- creeping,
- dallying,
- dawdling,
- dilatory,
- dillydallying,
- dragging,
- laggard,
- lagging,
- lazy,
- lazyish,
- leisurely,
- logy
- (also loggy),
- poking,
- poky
- (or pokey),
- slothful,
- slow,
- slowish,
- sluggish,
- tardy,
- unhurried
Frequently Asked Questions About expeditious
How does the adjective expeditious contrast with its synonyms?
Some common synonyms of expeditious are fast, fleet, hasty, quick, rapid, speedy, and swift. While all these words mean "moving, proceeding, or acting with celerity," 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 expeditious?
Both fast and rapid are very close in meaning, but fast applies particularly to the thing that moves.
fast horses
When is fleet a more appropriate choice than expeditious?
In some situations, the words fleet and expeditious are roughly equivalent. However, fleet adds the implication of lightness and nimbleness.
fleet runners
In what contexts can hasty take the place of expeditious?
While the synonyms hasty and expeditious are close in meaning, hasty suggests hurry and precipitousness and often connotes carelessness.
a hasty inspection
When is it sensible to use quick instead of expeditious?
The synonyms quick and expeditious are sometimes interchangeable, but quick suggests promptness and the taking of little time.
a quick wit
When can rapid be used instead of expeditious?
The words rapid and expeditious can be used in similar contexts, but rapid applies to the movement itself, rather than to the thing that moves.
rapid current
Where would speedy be a reasonable alternative to expeditious?
While in some cases nearly identical to expeditious, speedy implies quickness of successful accomplishment and may also suggest unusual velocity.
speedy delivery of mail
When might swift be a better fit than expeditious?
Although the words swift and expeditious have much in common, swift suggests great rapidity coupled with ease of movement.
returned the ball with one swift stroke
Share expeditious
Time Traveler for expeditious
The first known use of expeditious was in 1599
See more words from the same year