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Definition of hastinessnext
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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective hasty contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of hasty are expeditious, fast, fleet, quick, rapid, speedy, and swift. While all these words mean "moving, proceeding, or acting with celerity," hasty suggests hurry and precipitousness and often connotes carelessness.

a hasty inspection

When is expeditious a more appropriate choice than hasty?

The words expeditious and hasty can be used in similar contexts, but 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 hasty?

Both fast and rapid are very close in meaning, but fast applies particularly to the thing that moves.

fast horses

When could fleet be used to replace hasty?

In some situations, the words fleet and hasty are roughly equivalent. However, fleet adds the implication of lightness and nimbleness.

fleet runners

When would quick be a good substitute for hasty?

Although the words quick and hasty have much in common, quick suggests promptness and the taking of little time.

a quick wit

When can rapid be used instead of hasty?

The synonyms rapid and hasty are sometimes interchangeable, but rapid applies to the movement itself, rather than to the thing that moves.

rapid current

When is it sensible to use speedy instead of hasty?

While in some cases nearly identical to hasty, speedy implies quickness of successful accomplishment and may also suggest unusual velocity.

speedy delivery of mail

Where would swift be a reasonable alternative to hasty?

While the synonyms swift and hasty are close in meaning, 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 hastiness
Noun
Besides, just as the cruelty is the point of everything this administration does so, too, is the hastiness. Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Catastrophizing, making rash decisions and hasty cuts and failing to see the situation clearly just exacerbate the issue. Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026 Western forces have largely beat a hasty retreat from Africa’s coup-prone Sahel region in recent years. Kaitlyn Rabe, The Conversation, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for hastiness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hastiness
Noun
  • This guarantees that no matter which parent or caregiver is running the afternoon hustle, everyone is in the loop on expectations beyond drop-off and pick-up times.
    Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 16 Aug. 2026
  • There was no music and no hustle and bustle in Inwood on Sunday; just the sound of barricades being laid out in the normally boisterous neighborhood.
    Kristie Keleshian, CBS News, 16 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • 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
Noun
  • Bleyl is also highly mobile with great speed and edge work, and projects to lead the rush.
    Corey Pronman, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • This postpartum depression became the condition under which which her addiction escalated, as Panettiere described needing a rush dopamine or something else to break through the numbness.
    Martha Ross, Mercury News, 17 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Hastiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hastiness. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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