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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
Cassandra Austen’s hasty and incomplete sketch of Jane survives in the National Portrait Gallery in London. Lucy Worsley september 16, Literary Hub, 16 Sep. 2025 John Sandweg, the former director of ICE during the Obama administration, said the facility’s hasty construction in just over a week made errors inevitable. Ben Wieder, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2025 Authorities said Robinson allegedly sniped Kirk from a position on top of the Sorensen Student Center, several hundred feet away from him, and then made a hasty retreat into a nearby neighborhood. Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025 The Oriental Theater’s longtime landlord, The Sager Family, had alerted them to the Federal Theatre’s availability in late 2023, following the hasty departure of a church that had occupied the building for several years. John Wenzel, Denver Post, 12 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hastiness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hastiness
Noun
  • The hub-and-spoke model This is the sweet spot for the traveler who wants to see as much as possible but can’t commit to the team-following hustle.
    Meredith Heil Bock, AFAR Media, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Smith’s energy was reflective of Las Vegas’ overall hustle.
    Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Foster’s hurried firing on Sunday morning comes after his hurried hiring in February 2024, his placement a band-aid one week after Chip Kelly bolted to be offensive coordinator at Ohio State.
    Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 15 Sep. 2025
  • The Chiefs blitzed just to force a hurried throw from Hurts.
    Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Industry leaders like Epic, Microsoft, Doximity, athenahealth and Oracle have been rolling out new capabilities at a rapid clip.
    Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
  • Bernardo lamented the success teams were having on the break against City after their defeat against Al Hilal in the Club World Cup in July, but City are giving teams a taste of their own medicine, with Haaland leading these rapid attacks.
    Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Trump spoke briefly to reporters about the post on Saturday, stating that it was not meant to critique Bondi, but to urge his Attorney General to move with haste in prosecuting his political opponents.
    Rebecca Schneid, Time, 21 Sep. 2025
  • Larsen makes Didi’s absurd actions feel credible, something a woman frustrated with her own life would do, in haste, on behalf of another.
    Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • These alternatives can often provide a richer, less rushed experience than a whirlwind day trip to Paris.
    David Nikel, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • The Dolphins had two delay-of-game penalties and a rushed play during their unsuccessful final two drives against New England.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Pressing less, fewer long spells of possession, quicker to work the ball through the thirds.
    Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
  • Choosing to engage means players can toss out one of their own Pokémon, all accessible at any time with quick button presses, or just skip the process and chuck a Poke ball at the back of the creature’s head.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The defensive backs have received much of the blame, but the lack of a consistent pass rush has been a significant contributor.
    Jon Machota, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
  • Get ahead of the holiday rush with trending deals and gifts curated by USA TODAY Shopping.
    Kasey Caminiti, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Stewart-Allen believes Disney’s actions with Kimmel were impulsive.
    Natasha Chen, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Susannah was a kindhearted but sometimes impulsive woman.
    Sarah John, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Hastiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hastiness. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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