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fast 1 of 4

adverb

Definition of fastnext
1
as in quickly
with great speed run as fast as you can to get help

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in quite
to a full extent or degree everyone in camp was fast asleep within minutes of hitting the sack

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fast

2 of 4

adjective

ˈfast How to pronounce fast (audio)
1
as in rapid
moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed the fast pace of construction resulted in our new house being done ahead of schedule

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in loyal
firm in one's allegiance to someone or something the two girls soon became fast and inseparable friends

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in tight
firmly positioned in place and difficult to dislodge the rusty, old screws are so fast in the fitting that there's no hope of getting them out

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in deceptive
given to or marked by cheating and deception rolling back odometers was just one of the fast practices that the used-car dealer was guilty of

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in sturdy
marked by the ability to withstand stress without structural damage or distortion as the storm approached, we checked to see that every thing on the outside of the house was fast and locked in position

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6
as in short
not lasting for a considerable time after a fast explanation of the procedure, we were turned loose to do the work

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in quick
having or showing quickness of mind I don't know how to operate this machine, but I'm a fast learner

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fast

3 of 4

noun

as in famine

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

fast

4 of 4

verb

as in to diet

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Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective fast contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of fast are expeditious, fleet, hasty, quick, rapid, speedy, and swift. While all these words 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

When can expeditious be used instead of fast?

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

the expeditious handling of an order

When is it sensible to use fleet instead of fast?

While the synonyms fleet and fast are close in meaning, fleet adds the implication of lightness and nimbleness.

fleet runners

In what contexts can hasty take the place of fast?

Although the words hasty and fast have much in common, hasty suggests hurry and precipitousness and often connotes carelessness.

a hasty inspection

When would quick be a good substitute for fast?

In some situations, the words quick and fast are roughly equivalent. However, quick suggests promptness and the taking of little time.

a quick wit

When might rapid be a better fit than fast?

The meanings of rapid and fast largely overlap; however, rapid applies to the movement itself, rather than to the thing that moves.

rapid current

When is speedy a more appropriate choice than fast?

The words speedy and fast can be used in similar contexts, but speedy implies quickness of successful accomplishment and may also suggest unusual velocity.

speedy delivery of mail

When could swift be used to replace fast?

While in some cases nearly identical to fast, swift suggests great rapidity coupled with ease of movement.

returned the ball with one swift stroke

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 fast
Adverb
Maximum configurations support megawatt fast charging to hit 80 percent capacity in 25 minutes. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2026 Italy, Spain and other European countries experienced extreme temperatures in the world’s fastest-warming continent. — ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026
Adjective
Several of the staples of break fast meals — bagels, cream cheese and lox — are carbohydrate-heavy and can send blood sugar soaring if eaten too quickly. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 14 Sep. 2026 Consumer biological age tests have moved from research labs to celebrity Instagram feeds, promising to tell you how fast your body is aging compared with your peers. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2026
Noun
One year, my family’s Yom Kippur break-fast meal was very nearly derailed when my dad got into an argument with one of our guests about the Rosenbergs. — Amy Weiss-Meyer, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026 The diet recommends starting the fast after an early dinner and breaking it the next day with an afternoon snack, followed by dinner at your regular time (rather than fasting from morning to night in a single day). — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 29 June 2026
Verb
How those three weeks go, though, will be important for the progress of USC’s young players, who need to find their bearings fast in order for USC to fulfill its potential. — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026 Rain is expected to be steady throughout the day on Wednesday, unlike Tuesday's storms that came strong and fast through the region. — Cheryl Vari, Cincinnati Enquirer, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fast
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fast
  1. quickly
  2. quite
  3. rapid
  4. loyal
  5. tight
  6. deceptive
  7. sturdy
  8. short
Adverb
  • Both players were able to end points quickly, and Sabalenka also showed off some impressive speed in tracking down drop shots.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Consumers across many Asian markets are willing to experiment with new flavors and restaurant concepts, creating opportunities for brands to generate awareness and trial quickly, Tan said.
    — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of quickly
Adverb
  • Creative director Dan Hay's (known for his work on the modern Far Cry games) teased a game that's quite different from what's shown in the first CG trailer above.
    — Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • How to Use Coriander as a Spice Although cilantro and coriander come from the same plant, their flavors—and kitchen uses—are quite different.
    — Rachel Gillett, Martha Stewart, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of quite
Adjective
  • The system must support rapid acceleration while allowing the interceptor to maneuver toward its target.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Both two-stage vehicles are being manufactured with full and rapid reusability in mind, with Pathfinder serving as the proving ground for that architecture.
    — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of rapid
Adjective
  • Then, as now, the cable system reached only the five boroughs of New York City, giving NY1 a loyal, concentrated audience of more than 1 million daily viewers in the capital of media and finance.
    — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Wings fan held family close to his heart Frank Doyle, 39, formerly of New Boston and Bloomfield Hills, was a loyal Detroit Red Wings fan.
    — Sheryl Lee, Freep.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of loyal
Adjective
  • Kevin Jairaj / Imagn Images During an early August practice, Hurts was unusually expressive after completing a deep pass down the middle to Elijah Moore in tight coverage.
    — Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Room for Disagreement Some Democrats were worried less about their individual candidates or the DCCC’s ability to compete, and more about the Democratic National Committee’s ability to help candidates in tight raises.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of tight
Adjective
  • López’s attorney sent Rivas and her group a cease-and-desist letter last month, citing trademark infringement and deceptive and unfair trade practices, the letter shows.
    — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The technology was also tested against deceptive behaviour, an in a different scenario, fishing boats appeared to retreat while vessels from another direction accelerated toward the coastguard ship.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of deceptive
Adjective
  • Neither Jović nor Eala has a sturdy serve, as is common among players their age, so quick points were few and far between.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Its full aluminum build is sturdy and lightweight enough to hold for a long time, and battery life is solid for how bright the screen is, clocking in at over six hours on a single charge in our testing.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of sturdy
Adjective
  • The Big Ten enters this week largely unscathed after Week 1, with 15 of its teams winning in regulation, another needing assistance from clock operators and two falling considerably short.
    — Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The Late Show won for writing, short form comedy, picture editing, technical direction and camerawork, and lighting design — all a fond farewell to the show.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of short

Browse Nearby Words

fashions
fast
fastback
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Cite this Entry

“Fast.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fast. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on fast

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fast

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