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
The last of the new subs isn’t due to join the fleet until 2038. Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026 NetJets, the unit of Berkshire Hathaway, which also owns aircraft management firm Executive Jet Management, is the largest operator in the world with over 1,100 aircraft between its fractional and managed fleets. Doug Gollan, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 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
  • By that afternoon, the RCMP — and a convoy of local vehicles — escorted the Kingdom out of town.
    Zander Sherman, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2026
  • When a roadside bomb struck his Humvee convoy months later, the explosion’s shock wave swept through his body before headaches and sleeplessness set in for days.
    ABC News, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • These could include intense earthquake swarms, rapid ground deformation, changing gas emissions, and unusual heat flow.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Amazon's recent decision to shorten server depreciation periods underscores the risk of rapid hardware aging.
    Robert J. Szczerba, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 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
  • Founded by a former lawyer turned bookseller and Pasadena native Dan Whitmore, the store is doing brisk business among a younger clientele that still values the tactile pleasures to be found from beautiful books.
    Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Pick up apple cider donuts at Breeze Hill Farm before taking a brisk trek through any one of North Fork’s idyllic nature preserves—Orient Beach State Park, Sound View Dunes Park, and Laurel Lake Preserve are some of our favorites.
    Jessica Sulima, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • On a recent July morning, a four-car caravan carrying a dozen women rolled into the remote Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness in Pitkin County, kicking up the dust on a bumpy unpaved road.
    Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 30 July 2026
  • An independent pest control specialist has since inspected and treated the caravan.
    Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026
Adjective
  • Rhyne Howard became the fastest player in WNBA history to record 100 made three-pointers in a season, doing it in just 31 games.
    Christopher Harris, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Jen Gauthier, Raytheon’s vice president for Naval Systems & Sustainment, said the demonstration supports faster development of autonomous undersea capabilities.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 11 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • 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
  • The vessel was hired in late 2024 by a production operating under the working title Charlie’s Tale and appeared as one of the escort ships in the film‘s Viking flotilla.
    Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 24 July 2026
Adjective
  • Staff in the South Stand offices would spend the winter months wearing jackets due to a broken boiler and, according to Bruce, only the players quickest to the dressing-room showers could expect to enjoy hot water after games.
    Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • This is excellent energy for captions, pitches, texts, brainstorming, flirting, or turning a quick idea into something shareable.
    Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Fleet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fleet. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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