fleet 1 of 2

Definition of fleetnext
as in convoy
a group of vehicles traveling together or under one management a fleet of buses rolling down the highway

Synonyms & Similar Words

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fleet

2 of 2

adjective

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective fleet contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of fleet are expeditious, fast, hasty, quick, rapid, speedy, and swift. While all these words mean "moving, proceeding, or acting with celerity," fleet adds the implication of lightness and nimbleness.

fleet runners

When could expeditious be used to replace fleet?

In some situations, the words expeditious and fleet are roughly equivalent. However, 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 fleet?

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

fast horses

When is it sensible to use hasty instead of fleet?

While in some cases nearly identical to fleet, hasty suggests hurry and precipitousness and often connotes carelessness.

a hasty inspection

When would quick be a good substitute for fleet?

The meanings of quick and fleet largely overlap; however, quick suggests promptness and the taking of little time.

a quick wit

When can rapid be used instead of fleet?

The synonyms rapid and fleet are sometimes interchangeable, but rapid applies to the movement itself, rather than to the thing that moves.

rapid current

In what contexts can speedy take the place of fleet?

Although the words speedy and fleet have much in common, speedy implies quickness of successful accomplishment and may also suggest unusual velocity.

speedy delivery of mail

Where would swift be a reasonable alternative to fleet?

The words swift and fleet can be used in similar contexts, but 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 fleet
Noun
Before that ambition becomes a fleet, Schipkau needs to show what the extra altitude buys in practice. — New Atlas, 9 Oct. 2026 The assistant was pilot-tested in nuclear plants run by Constellation Energy and is now available to the United States’ entire fleet of reactors. — Andrew Moseman, IEEE Spectrum, 8 Oct. 2026
Adjective
The fleet buildup is designed to prevent such single points of failure, and the new bill contains language that would require NOAA to have backup aircraft on hand for each mission. — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 17 June 2026 Airlines generally plan for fleet growth years in advance, and the bulk of an aircraft's price is paid when a carrier receives it. — Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 9 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for fleet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fleet
Noun
  • In 2009, armed men stopped a convoy of civilians, relatives, lawyers and journalists heading to submit election filings in Maguindanao and killed 58 people, at least 32 of them journalists and media workers.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The State Department condemned the aid convoy strike without naming who was responsible.
    — Adrian Elimian, semafor.com, 28 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • The National Weather Service said rainfall was diminishing in the area but that rapid river rises and flooding remained possible.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The National Weather Service said rainfall was diminishing in the area but rapid river rises and flooding remained possible.
    — Sophie Bates, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Not an inciting event for troll armadas to threaten the people involved.
    — Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 2 July 2026
  • Corlys has his own armada sailing for Rhaenyra.
    — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 20 June 2026
Adjective
  • Though the Scandi brand was selling at a brisk pace to her online customers, Stover knew the economics weren’t going to work for the long term if every reorder was saddled with that kind of extra cost.
    — Jessica Binns, Vogue, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The final product is a rousing, brisk, and genuinely inspiring biopic that never feels like homework.
    — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 12 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Biddy covered most of the journey on foot—the equivalent of about six million steps—herding animals at the rear of her owner’s wagon company and choking her way through a moving screen of dust kicked up by the migrant caravan.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026
  • An hour earlier, a tribal member had called to report a caravan heading south through the reservation, and Facebook was lighting up with similar accounts.
    — Ryan Devereaux, ProPublica, 10 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Desiree Rios | Bloomberg | Getty Images Cleveland Federal Reserve President Beth Hammack said Monday that tighter monetary policy might be needed to bring down inflation and the central bank should make fast, incremental adjustments.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026
  • That will allow for faster and safer repatriation of the turtles that survive.
    — Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • There’s a flotilla of yachts, but millions of have-nots, and enough homeless people to fill stadiums.
    — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • According to Euronews, the ships belonged to the German Kriegsmarine’s Danube and Black Sea flotillas, which were intentionally sunk as German forces retreated before the advancing Soviet Red Army during the final months of World War II.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Step Back OPay took off in 2019 in Nigeria with ambitions to be a super app that offered various features, including motorcycle taxi bookings, food deliveries, and quick loans.
    — Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The crusts are shaped using a crimping technique that, along with a quick baking time at high heat, leads to a unique, varied texture, the website states.
    — Sadie Chafe, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Fleet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fleet. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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