Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

flying

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of flying

1 acting or done with excessive or careless speed

  • a flying attempt at finishing the work
Synonyms of flying

cursory, drive-by, gadarene, hasty, headlong, helter-skelter, hurried, overhasty, pell-mell, precipitate, precipitous, rash, rushed
Words Related to flying

breakneck, breathtaking

headstrong, heady, hotheaded, impatient, impetuous, impulsive, madcap, reckless, unadvised

quick, rapid, speedy, swift

horseback, impromptu, makeshift, offhand, offhanded, off-the-cuff, rush, slapdash, snap, spontaneous, spur-of-the-moment

abrupt, sudden
Near Antonyms of flying

calculated, calculating, measured

circumspect, foresighted, forethoughtful

drawn-out, extended, long-term, prolonged

faltering, hesitant, hesitating, tentative

dallying, dawdling, laggard, leisurely, poky (or pokey), shilly-shallying, slow
Antonyms of flying

deliberate, unhurried, unrushed

2 moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed

  • that car was flying as it careened down the streets
Synonyms of flying

blistering, breakneck, breathless, brisk, dizzy, fast, fleet, fleet-footed, galloping, hasty, hot, lightning, nippy, quick, rapid, rapid-fire, rattling, snappy, speedy, splitting, swift, whirlwind, zippy
Words Related to flying

expeditious, prompt, ready

accelerated, hastened, hurried, quickened, rushed

breathtaking

energetic, strenuous, strong, vigorous

high-speed

rush

ultrafast, ultrarapid
Phrases Synonymous with flying

at speed [chiefly British]
Near Antonyms of flying

crawling, dallying, dawdling, dillydallying, dragging, laggard, languid, lingering, plodding, poking, poky (or pokey), slowish, sluggish, unhurried

deliberate, leisurely, measured

dilatory, late, tardy

ultraslow
Antonyms of flying

slow

flying

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of flying

travel through the air by the use of wings

  • had never had the slightest fear of flying
Synonyms of flying

flight
Words Related to flying

aviation

aeronautics

ballooning, gliding, hang gliding, paragliding, skydiving, soaring

Learn More about flying

  1. See words that rhyme with flying Dictionary: Definition of flying Nglish: Translation of flying for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of flying for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about flying

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up flying? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games