Synonyms of hasty

hasty

adjective

ˈhā-stē 

1

as in hurried

acting or done with excessive or careless speed

Anna later regretted her hasty decision to sell her car

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hurried
• rushed
• impulsive
• overhasty
• rash
• reckless
• cursory
• sudden
• precipitous
• headlong
• rapid
• quick
• swift
• drive-by
• precipitate
• makeshift
• spontaneous
• abrupt
• flying
• helter-skelter
• impetuous
• pell-mell
• impromptu
• rush
• impatient
• breathtaking
• gadarene
• unadvised
• speedy
• slapdash
• spur-of-the-moment
• madcap
• hotheaded
• headstrong
• heady
• breakneck
• snap
• offhand
• off-the-cuff
• horseback
• offhanded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deliberate
• unhurried
• calculated
• circumspect
• prolonged
• calculating
• measured
• foresighted
• unrushed
• tentative
• long-term
• hesitant
• extended
• slow
• faltering
• hesitating
• leisurely
• forethoughtful
• drawn-out
• laggard
• poky
• dallying
• dawdling
• shilly-shallying

2

as in rapid

moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed

we all wish our sick friend a hasty recovery

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rapid
• quick
• brisk
• fast
• swift
• galloping
• hurried
• whirlwind
• speedy
• rattling
• lightning
• rapid-fire
• breathless
• hot
• splitting
• blistering
• dizzy
• rushed
• flying
• fleet
• zippy
• snappy
• breakneck
• accelerated
• expeditious
• nippy
• prompt
• fleet-footed
• ready
• at speed
• vigorous
• rush
• strong
• strenuous
• breathtaking
• hastened
• quickened
• high-speed
• energetic
• ultrafast
• ultrarapid

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• slow
• deliberate
• sluggish
• unhurried
• dragging
• languid
• crawling
• lingering
• leisurely
• plodding
• laggard
• poky
• dallying
• late
• dilatory
• tardy
• measured
• slowish
• dillydallying
• dawdling
• poking
• ultraslow

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

Recent Examples of hasty

The Second Emu War After a week of frustration, the three-man army beat a hasty retreat. —Tom Hawking, Popular Science, 25 Feb. 2026

Some players and agents are lobbying for other candidates, fearing — rightly or wrongly — that Scott Boras’ influence is pushing the union toward a too hasty promotion of Meyer, a polarizing figure both within the union and among the general player population. —Evan Drellich, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026

One of four astronauts launched by SpaceX last summer suffered what officials described as a serious health issue, prompting their hasty return. —Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2026

Her family believes the police investigation was hasty and has demanded an independent probe into her death. —Annasofia Scheve, San Antonio Express-News, 13 Feb. 2026