hastiness 1 of 2

Definition of hastinessnext

hasty

2 of 2

adjective

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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
Offscreen tragedy, including the deaths of key executive producer Kevin Turen and actor Angus Cloud, who played the affable drug dealer Fezco, and reports of long shooting times and hasty rewrites made the prospect of a third season seem up in the air for years. Molly Lambert, Vulture, 20 Apr. 2026 Filers who beat the deadline will position themselves for hasty refunds. Max Zahn, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hastiness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hastiness
Noun
  • Back at Ellis Preserve, those in the game of hustle and bustle said next week in Newtown Square will be like the Jersey Shore on the Fourth of July.
    Joe Holden, CBS News, 8 May 2026
  • Notable in the sequence was Bailey’s hustle to first on her near double-play ball, setting herself up to score the tying run instead of ending the game.
    Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 8 May 2026
Adjective
  • Staying there feels like stepping back in time to a less crowded, less hurried version of Italy, where old men gather in front of the church to watch the world go by, and families with little kids enjoy a gelato on the terrace of the cafes on the main square.
    Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 10 May 2026
  • Certainly, costs have risen, but those sorts of checks have made a hurried meal feel like an expensive indulgence and really not that different, cost-wise, from a full-service experience.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
Adjective
  • For instance, researchers found that rapid urbanization and electrification across Asia drove brightening in cities from China to India to Sub-Saharan Africa.
    Bree Shirvell, Hartford Courant, 12 May 2026
  • Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.
    CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 11 May 2026
Noun
  • Maria Wittorp, the hotel’s head concierge, said, with the haste of an auctioneer, standing in the lobby, as blazer-wearing staffers whipped by.
    Jane Bua, New Yorker, 14 May 2026
  • But haste also can be a costly approach.
    Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 12 May 2026
Adjective
  • As immigration officers arrested her six weeks ago, through tears and a rushed goodbye, Maria de Jesus Estrada Juarez had a request for her daughter.
    Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 6 Apr. 2026
  • Little emphasized the need to ease property taxes in a letter accompanying his signature but criticized Moyle’s approach as rushed and overly complex.
    Mark Dee March 25, Idaho Statesman, 25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • When the puck finally dropped on the fifth and deciding game of the semifinal series, Minnesota came out flying with yet another quick start, pinning Montreal into its own zone for most of the opening 10 minutes.
    Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 13 May 2026
  • Both audiences and platforms are quick to reject content that feels like advertising.
    Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 12 May 2026
Noun
  • Some families fear for their children’s safety and rush to take action, as was the case for Robert’s family.
    Rachel Hale, USA Today, 11 May 2026
  • That language in the agreement has raised concerns about a land rush for the lunar south pole’s riches, says astronomer Aaron Boley, co-director of the Outer Space Institute at the University of British Columbia.
    Dan Vergano, Scientific American, 11 May 2026
Adjective
  • That means being cautious and restrained, aiming for stable production or slow, steady growth, instead of impulsive moves.
    Camila Domonoske, NPR, 7 May 2026
  • This isn’t a time for impulsive decision-making, however.
    R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Hastiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hastiness. Accessed 16 May. 2026.

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