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
So far, the company’s fleet has primarily consisted of Jaguar I-Pace cars retrofitted with the 5th-gen Waymo Driver. Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 29 May 2026 Blue Origin has been doing a lot of developmental work on the larger 9×4 rocket, which is expected to become the workhorse of the fleet over the smaller 7×2 rocket variant that exploded on Thursday evening in Florida. Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 29 May 2026
Adjective
Now with a dozen all-suite, luxury cruise and expedition ships, Silversea’s fleet voyages to enchanting destinations around the globe. Susan B. Barnes, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026 Britain won the first of three fleet races Sunday. ABC News, 1 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fleet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fleet
Noun
  • In the center of town, underneath the tall clock tower that rises above city hall, people bow their heads in silence as another military funeral convoy passes through the streets.
    Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 26 May 2026
  • Syrian authorities blocked their convoy's route to Damascus and turned them back to Roj camp, a location in northeast Syria near the Iraq border where people linked to IS have been held since IS forces in the Middle East were defeated in 2019.
    ABC News, ABC News, 25 May 2026
Adjective
  • According to the health ministry, the main challenges in containing the outbreak include early detection and rapid isolation of cases, rigorous contact tracing, safe and dignified burials and strengthening infection prevention and control in health facilities.
    ABC News, ABC News, 1 June 2026
  • Having scored for fun at youth level, his rise was rapid.
    Tim Spiers, New York Times, 1 June 2026
Noun
  • But for America’s 250th birthday, New York Harbor is also recruiting a proud armada of very tall sailing ships for the latest edition of OpSail.
    Paige Darrah, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 May 2026
  • Yellow split peas, horse gram, chickpeas, brown lentils and moth beans — Iyer assembles an armada of more than 15 different types of legumes for the Legume Curries chapter.
    Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 11 May 2026
Adjective
  • Alternatively, if exercising within four hours of bedtime, opt for short-duration, light-to-moderate-intensity exercises, such as brisk walking, or slow jogging for 30 minutes.
    Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 27 May 2026
  • Given the brisk start then, is there still hope that the best is yet to come?
    Randy Myers, Mercury News, 23 May 2026
Noun
  • The Nazarene saved his kindest words for the meek, the poor, the peacemakers — who are sorely lacking in Pratt’s caravan of disaffected liberals, Trumpers and the wealthy.
    Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026
  • Betting on the farm After the visit to Magnet, Khanna’s caravan left Cleveland and headed southwest toward Toledo.
    Garrett Downs, CNBC, 28 May 2026
Adjective
  • Another placard states that, at one point, the driver of the fastest boat in the world lived across from the Sagamore.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026
  • SMRs are usually designed to be mass-produced and shipped to sites for faster and cheaper installation than traditional reactors, which often take over a decade to come online.
    Joseph Wilkins, CNBC, 3 June 2026
Noun
  • The organization also ran a maritime flotilla earlier this spring consisting of dozens of boats, which was intercepted before reaching Gaza.
    Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
  • France has asked for its public prosecutor to investigate the treatment of French nationals who were detained by Israel after taking part in a flotilla headed for Gaza, French ⁠Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said today.
    Jay Ganglani, NBC news, 29 May 2026
Adjective
  • The area The property sits in the Anambas archipelago, an 80-minute flight from Batam, an Indonesian island that’s a quick boat ride from Singapore.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026
  • In Campbell’s experience, the learning curve for padel is quicker than pickleball.
    Mindy Sink, Denver Post, 2 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Fleet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fleet. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.

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