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hasty

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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
Adjective
In both cases, subsequent lawsuits accused the police of shoddy investigations and hasty decision-making in the service of creating good TV. Jessica Lussenhop, ProPublica, 29 Mar. 2025 Resolving these tensions requires genuine leadership – not hasty amendments. Philip Salter, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025 While some parents might rush to force their kids to make a hasty and superficial apology–or even non-apology–taking an engaged approach instead of a reactive one allowed this father and son to make a sincere attempt at amends that took into account the other person’s feelings. Christian Dashiell, Parents, 24 Apr. 2025 The board expressed concern over the hasty implementation of these changes without public information or human rights due diligence. Katie Paul and Echo Wang, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hastiness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hastiness
Noun
  • For many coming from a hustle and bustle culture, this could be a welcome change of pace.
    Kathleen Peddicord, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
  • Redefining What Success Looks Like Instead of chasing traditional business blueprints rooted in overwork and hustle, many Black women are carving out a new model—one that centers sustainability, wellness, and self-preservation.
    Jasmine Browley, Essence, 28 May 2025
Adjective
  • This comes as the Trump administration has faced growing criticisms for its hurried proceedings to remove as many noncitizens from the country as quickly as possible.
    Alana Wise, NPR, 26 Apr. 2025
  • In Alentejo, food is meant to be shared, and time at the table is never hurried, and this is a central element of the experience at São Lourenço do Barrocal.
    Monica Mendal, Vogue, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • But over the decades, jobs vanished, factories closed, and industry's hum was replaced by the lure of cheap labor overseas and rapid automation at home.
    Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025
  • However, no big promises are being made about throwing a lot of money at a rapid rise.
    Beren Cross, New York Times, 29 May 2025
Noun
  • The decision to move the baseball tournament to the Phoenix area starting in 2026 was not made in haste.
    Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 23 May 2025
  • Investors with the capability to perform rigorous due diligence and act with haste can acquire distressed property at a deep discount.
    Arman Harutyunyan, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The original rat killer Published April 25, 2007 With one quick flick of his wrist, Scott Mellanby felled a rodent and became part of South Florida sports lore.
    Jeff Kleinman, Miami Herald, 3 June 2025
  • No matter how small your business, here is a quick blueprint for strengthening your defense against common cyber threats: Start with the basics.
    Harry Kazakian, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
Noun
  • Far removed from the green rush, Mura is helping the service businesses that maintain our buildings, hospitals and infrastructure operate faster and smarter.
    Alexandra York, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
  • The rush is also on to translate EV supremacy to other industries.
    Charlie Campbell, Time, 29 May 2025
Adjective
  • Although bad things do happen to him, they are often caused by his own careless and impulsive nature.
    Joan MacDonald, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
  • Move slowly and be careful about impulsive ideas and actions.
    Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 30 May 2025
Adjective
  • The barn jacket makes for a stylish layering piece, which is perfect to bring along for cool nights around the bonfire or brisk boat rides.
    Izzy Baskette, People.com, 23 May 2025
  • Mike Dunleavy Reveals Big Offseason Roster Goal Now, after a brisk five-game defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves (mostly without their best player, Stephen Curry, who went down in Game 1 with a hamstring strain), the Warriors face an uncertain offseason.
    Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Hastiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hastiness. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

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