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
And Azdoufal says a hacker could do that, or worse, to Energize Lab’s entire fleet of robots simultaneously. — Sean Hollister, The Verge, 15 Oct. 2026 According to Reuters, the Energy Department said any move to relieve sanctions on the shadow fleet would not help ‌Russia to move oil or oil products. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 15 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
  • 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
  • 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
Adjective
  • This is the experience of some students in the state and it is being further complicated by the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence, rising college costs and limited exposure to jobs before graduation.
    — P.R. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Their operational training regularly includes rapid rope insertions from heights of 100 feet or more.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 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
  • Most dogs benefit from two brisk daily walks of 20-30 minutes.
    — Will Boyd, Baltimore Sun, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Los Javis, working with editor Alberto Gutiérrez, keep things moving, and the film’s two-and-a-half-hour running time moves at a surprisingly brisk pace.
    — Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 15 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
  • Before my arrival, the Belâawane’s caravan comprised 200 goats, two dogs to help herd the goats, two chickens for eggs, and three donkeys to transport the chickens, tea kettles, jugs for water, blankets, and other food and camp supplies.
    — Jen Murphy, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • If there are 1023 particles interfering with one another on such tiny and fast quantum scales, no human has a chance to see constructive quantum interference.
    — Philipp Strasberg, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • So the faster states count ballots, the faster those determinations can be made.
    — Miles Parks, NPR, 19 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
  • If your team is any version of a Power Five power player, the playoff conversation gets real anticlimactic real quick.
    — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • People in the comments were quick to offer the officer a lot of praise and other reactions.
    — David Hookstead OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Fleet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fleet. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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