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
After disembarking from the ninth car in the 10-car train — made up of R211 cars, the newest in the subway fleet — Boahene was dragged by the train’s rear carriage, according to the NTSB report. — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026 Some of the different colored electric vehicles part of the Freebee fleet. — Sofia Zarran, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026
Adjective
Alicia Tillman Alicia Tillman is currently the chief marketing officer at Delta, the world’s largest airline by both fleet size and market cap. — Slma Shelbayah, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for fleet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fleet
Noun
  • On the way back, a vehicle in the convoy veered off the road and fell into a ravine.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Future of separatism Keith Wilson, another Alberta independence leader who was lead counsel for the 2022 convoy organizers, said separatists see the vote as a way to give Alberta more leverage in dealing with Ottawa, even short of independence.
    — Rob Gillies, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Seen through this lens, rising demand for in-person connection amid the rapid expansion of technology is not a contradiction.
    — Davis Noell, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The project signals continued demand for rapid-deployment energy infrastructure.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 25 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
  • There’s a lot packed into that paragraph, but Ribaudo is adept at keeping the narrative brisk and compelling.
    — Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Over Zoom on a brisk morning back home in Korea, Jeon has just experienced a whirlwind of a month.
    — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • There were tent camps on both sides of the border, caravans of people trudging through Central America and concerns about newcomers overwhelming social services.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Founder Kate Macdonald is the fifth generation, and her sister Anna runs the food caravan next door.
    — Chloe Sachdev, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • In March 2026, China approved the world’s first commercially available brain-computer interface medical device, a milestone that pointed to ambitions extending well beyond low-cost production or fast-follow imitation.
    — Ruby Wang, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2026
  • The uptick in earnings came as factory-gate prices rose at their fastest pace since mid-2022, driven by higher energy and raw material prices amid the Middle East conflict.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Cleopatra and Julius Caesar sailed the river with a 400-ship flotilla.
    — Susan B. Barnes, Travel + Leisure, 29 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Adjective
  • Here’s a quick primer on the leading agents and tips for how to start.
    — Marty Swant, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Naz Reid struck fire midway through the fourth, executing, in quick succession, plays on both ends of the court.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 27 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Fleet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fleet. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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