HASTES Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'haste' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of haste are dispatch , expedition , hurry , and speed . While all these words mean "quickness in movement or action," haste applies to personal action and implies urgency and precipitancy and often rashness. // marry in haste

Q: How are the words 'expedition' and 'dispatch' related as synonyms of 'haste'?

Expedition and dispatch both imply speed and efficiency in handling affairs but expedition stresses ease or efficiency of performance and dispatch stresses promptness in concluding matters. // the case came to trial with expedition // paid bills with dispatch

Q: When could 'hurry' be used to replace 'haste'?

The words hurry and haste are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, hurry often has a strong suggestion of agitated bustle or confusion. // in the hurry of departure she forgot her toothbrush

Q: When can 'speed' be used instead of 'haste'?

The words speed and haste can be used in similar contexts, but speed suggests swift efficiency in movement or action. // exercises to increase your reading speed

haste

noun

ˈhāst

Definition of haste

as in speed

a high rate of movement or performance made haste to get there on time

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in hustle

excited and often showy or disorderly speed haste makes waste in her haste, she forgot her keys

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun haste contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of haste are dispatch, expedition, hurry, and speed. While all these words mean "quickness in movement or action," haste applies to personal action and implies urgency and precipitancy and often rashness.

marry in haste

How are the words expedition and dispatch related as synonyms of haste?

Expedition and dispatch both imply speed and efficiency in handling affairs but expedition stresses ease or efficiency of performance and dispatch stresses promptness in concluding matters.

the case came to trial with expedition

paid bills with dispatch

When could hurry be used to replace haste?

The words hurry and haste are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, hurry often has a strong suggestion of agitated bustle or confusion.

in the hurry of departure she forgot her toothbrush

When can speed be used instead of haste?

The words speed and haste can be used in similar contexts, but speed suggests swift efficiency in movement or action.

exercises to increase your reading speed

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 haste If things start to look like an actual slowdown of AI is going to be imposed, there will be a heightened frenzy to beat the deadline and proceed with tremendous haste. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026 Perhaps the clearest example of lessons learned from the Los Angeles fires was the haste with which local law enforcement worked to evacuate residents, Clemo said. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026 Utility deposits forgotten in the haste and hassle of an interstate move. — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 July 2026 Payment only upon completion can lead to haste, which can generate confusion and mistakes. — Paige Williams, New Yorker, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for haste

Recent Examples of Synonyms for haste

Noun

Nearly everyone rides a stationary bike — high tension, low speed — after a match and quickly downs a protein recovery drink.

— Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
The storm, now moving west-northwest at just 5 mph, is forecast to turn northward to north-northeastward with an increase in forward speed Sunday and Monday, the National Hurricane Center said in its latest update.

— Doyle Rice, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of speed

Noun

The Winnetu Oceanside Resort offers a respite from the hustle and bustle with a gamut of activities that run from tennis and yoga to a ride on an antique fire truck.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Sep. 2026
For those who take pride in their pouty lips (or their ability to talk their way out of just about anything), a swipe of lipstick and nothing else is a cool way to look put together without the hustle of actually putting yourself together.

— Loren Savini, Allure, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of hustle

Noun

The rocket’s second stage ignited a single Aquila engine and accelerated to orbital velocity—some 5 miles per second—about seven minutes into the flight.

— Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 6 Sep. 2026
The right-hander, who came to the Mets from the Milwaukee Brewers in the trade for Freddy Peralta, was the long man out of the bullpen at the start of the year and pitched well until his velocity started to decline.

— Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of velocity

Noun

The pass-rush group isn’t nearly as scary without Garrett, and that could affect every level of the defense.

— Zac Jackson, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Flights at Miami International Airport cancelled, delayed The deadly crash happened during the Labor Day travel rush at one of the nation’s busiest airports.

— Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of rush

Noun

Armondo Blount had Miami’s only sack, and PFF credited UM with only seven quarterback hurries (three by Blount, and one apiece by Omar Thornton, Chase Smith, Lightfoot and Justin Scott).

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026
In hurry-and-scurry mode, Katalyst built a robotic spacecraft called LINK, which launched on July 3 to meet up with Swift and haul it to a higher orbit.

— Leonard David, Space.com, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of hurry

Noun

During strong El Niños, global air and ocean temperatures spike, and precipitation patterns shift dramatically – flooding rains deluge places that are normally dry, and drought strikes some of the wettest locations on earth.

— Steven Paton, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2026
Thursday's rainfall brought some cooler temperatures to Oklahoma City, but the weather wasn't the only thing to be affected by the unusual precipitation.

— Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of precipitation

Browse Nearby Words

hassling

haste

hasten

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“Haste.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/haste. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of haste

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