1
as in speed
a high rate of movement or performance
the amazing fastness with which the boy took his shower had us wondering if he'd used any water
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stronghold
a structure or place from which one can resist attack
the guerillas retreated to their network of hidden fastnesses deep within the mountains
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in loyalty
adherence to something to which one is bound by a pledge or duty
his uncompromising fastness to the cause of freedom was beyond question
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fastness
Editors and contributors compare dozens of sets and look for qualities such as softness, durability, breathability, color fastness, and how well the linens launder and withstand wear.
—
Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 20 Jan. 2026
Li said the color builds the familiar ring-dye, white-core look designers expect, then fades predictably in laundry while maintaining high light fastness (Grade 4–5) and strong anti-yellowing.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 11 Nov. 2025
Like the pressing, the hard work mentality and fastness of transition for example.
—Andy Jones, New York Times, 29 May 2025
The Neutral Ground had cowboys (or Cow Boys), Indians, cavalry attacks and rescues, and secret woodland fastnesses known only to the canniest frontiersman.
—Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024
Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 20 Jan. 2026
Li said the color builds the familiar ring-dye, white-core look designers expect, then fades predictably in laundry while maintaining high light fastness (Grade 4–5) and strong anti-yellowing.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 11 Nov. 2025
Like the pressing, the hard work mentality and fastness of transition for example.
—Andy Jones, New York Times, 29 May 2025
The Neutral Ground had cowboys (or Cow Boys), Indians, cavalry attacks and rescues, and secret woodland fastnesses known only to the canniest frontiersman.
—Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fastness
Noun
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Carter, a speed threat whose largest hurdle has been availability, is a natural center fielder and played the position nearly full time when healthy last season.—
Shawn McFarland,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Awad points to the speed with which Palestinian perpetrators are brought to justice in crimes against Israelis.—
Zeena Saifi,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
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These losses have been particularly notable in historically Black strongholds like Bedford-Stuyvesant and Harlem.—
Naomi Jackson,
Curbed,
11 Feb. 2026
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But West Virginia is a proletarian locale that until not long ago was a Democratic stronghold.—
Mark Leibovich,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Jacob has also earned industry plaudits for using data from his Scene loyalty program to help target the right theaters and showtimes with international movie titles to reach diverse and multicultural audiences across Canada.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Feb. 2026
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And companies that want to retain the loyalty of their best customers may need to get more creative than relying on credit-card spending to boost their coffers.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The velocity, down from his average of nearly 96 mph before his latest elbow surgery, is something the Padres believe could possibly tick up slightly with some mechanical adjustments.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
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But his average exit velocity ranked in the 95th percentile.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Those interested in the history of the fortress can learn more in the six different on-site museums.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Feb. 2026
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At the end of a winding valley road deep in the Purcell Mountains, Panorama Mountain Resort feels like a secret fortress of skiing.—
Brent Rose,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Back-to-back wins for her birth country of Canada in the two-woman event in 2010 and 2014, plus another gold, after a contentious, stressful battle to switch national allegiances, for the United States, in the inaugural driver-only monobob event in Beijing.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
14 Feb. 2026
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Pinheiro Braathen switched allegiance to his mother's nation of birth in 2024 after splitting from Norway's ski program.—
Sean Nevin,
NBC news,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Texas is the bastion of common sense, law and order, and the land of unlimited opportunity.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
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Observing an actual Parisian rejecting butter—one of France’s holy trinity of dairy products, along with cheese and crème fraîche—was a window into the new wellness culture seeping into what might have been the world’s last bastion of free-flowing wine and glutinous bread.—
Hannah Seligson,
Vanity Fair,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Materials used across the footwear and bag collections were developed as part of the BioShoes4all project, which aims to reinforce APICCAPS’ dedication to innovation, research, and advanced material development.—
Stephen Garner,
Footwear News,
16 Feb. 2026
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My commitment to public service is rooted in a lifelong dedication to advocacy and education.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fastness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fastness. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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