fleet 1 of 2

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
In total, India has 616 combat aircraft, while Pakistan has a fleet of 387 jets, according to FlightGlobal's World Air Forces directory for 2025. Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025 In October, Google teamed up with small modular reactor company Kairos Power, pledging to buy power from the company’s fleet of reactors. Pippa Stevens, CNBC, 7 May 2025
Adjective
Her star-wattage smile sets the tone for the friendly, fleet front-of-house staff. Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2024 Car rental companies divested themselves of many of their fleet cars in the early days of the pandemic, and were not able to quickly replenish them due to microchip shortages and supply chain problems among automakers. William Thornton | Wthornton@al.com, al, 23 Aug. 2023 See All Example Sentences for fleet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fleet
Noun
  • Yet a shattering tragedy at around the film’s mid-point upsets that trajectory entirely, as their convoy of cars become stationary, and confrontations with mortality must be sought.
    David Katz, IndieWire, 16 May 2025
  • Driving a suburban family people mover, Luis obediently joins the shabby convoy of converted trucks heading away from the rave scene.
    Damon Wise, Deadline, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • The 20-year-old centre-back is one of the most exciting defensive prospects around and his move to the Santiago Bernabeu marks the highest point yet of a remarkably rapid rise.
    James Horncastle, New York Times, 17 May 2025
  • And who stands to benefit, and who might this rapid shift be hurting?
    Taylor Wilson, USA Today, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • Retired Marine Gerry Berry was a helicopter pilot aboard the armada of American ships off the coast.
    David Martin, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2025
  • The joy of being in the friendliest of armadas certainly was infectious.
    Elisabeth Vincentelli, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The chippies, pubs and merchandise stalls on Goodison Road are doing brisk business, as fans arrive extra early to soak up precious last memories.
    Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 14 May 2025
  • Adames began jogging around the bases, but his trot soon slowed into a brisk walk.
    Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 9 May 2025
Noun
  • The caravan of waste-haulers continued in the days that followed, often arriving after sundown or in the dark hours before dawn.
    Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2025
  • Our choice clearly isn't the best starting point from which to springboard a camper company specializing in affordable, inconspicuous caravans.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • And after a third-place finish at the only other race he’s been in this year — the Daytona 500 — who’s to say Johnson can’t be the fastest again?
    Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 22 May 2025
  • The changes included speedier implementation of the Medicaid work requirements, which will begin in December 2026, rather than January 2029, and a faster rollback of the production tax credits for clean electricity projects, both sought by the conservatives.
    Lisa Mascaro, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • When an aid flotilla attempted to break a blockade of Gaza in 2010, Israeli forces stormed a Turkish ship, the Mavi Marmara, killing nine people on board.
    Sam Mednick and Renata Brito, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2025
  • The mental health therapy flotilla currently afloat is not prepared to handle it and is barely keeping above water as is.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Shooting victim Sarah Milgrim remembered as 'a light' who fought antisemitism Israeli Embassy shooting: See the scene Real quick All American Rejects singer explains what's up with viral pop-up shows.
    Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 23 May 2025
  • This streamlines workflows, automates tasks and leads to quicker decisions.
    Stephen Litjens, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fleet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fleet. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

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