Definition of hastynext
1
2

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 hasty Spinning brushes and bursts of pressurized gas inside the head then sweep samples into a collection chamber before the spacecraft beats a hasty retreat. Andrew Jones, Scientific American, 11 June 2026 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 Meanwhile, some Jackson County taxing jurisdictions have criticized the county’s tax policies as hasty and damaging. Ilana Arougheti june 13, Kansas City Star, 13 June 2026 Iranian critics of the MoU claim Tehran was too hasty in agreeing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz without gaining any tangible benefits from the agreement. July 1, CBS News, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for hasty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hasty
Adjective
  • But for some reason the powers that be have decreed artificial intelligence a civilizational imperative, requiring the hurried construction of swarms of data centers, on Earth and in space.
    Mark Gongloff, Mercury News, 24 June 2026
  • Right now, decisions are being made in a hurried, contradictory fashion.
    Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 15 June 2026
Adjective
  • Prices are subject to rapid, unpredictable changes due to factors like, but not limited to, supply/demand, weather, and geopolitical events.
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 8 July 2026
  • This all comes amid rapid technological, social and economic change in China.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 8 July 2026
Adjective
  • Instead, Mahan and his wealthy Silicon Valley backers talked themselves into a rushed and premature campaign that was never remotely competitive.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
  • 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
Adjective
  • Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley There may still be questions about whether the romance between Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley was genuine, and their secret, quick-turn overseas wedding didn't help matters.
    Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • But upon closer inspection Mbiya appears significantly leaner and quicker.
    Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026
Adjective
  • The desire for freedom is overpowering, as is the potential for impulsive and rash decisions made in the moment.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
  • Many individuals fall prey to emotional pitfalls like fear, greed, or shame, leading to impulsive spending, credit card debt, and neglecting long-term goals like retirement.
    ByGabriel Shahin, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Adjective
  • The vineyard is the site of a Christmas tree farm, and tends to be crisp and brisk, like the resulting wines.
    Laura Ness, Mercury News, 5 July 2026
  • There are brisk 7am forest walks, group yoga, breath work, and a class on Lanserhof healing exercises, which combine stretching, tapping, and movement.
    Clare Coulson, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2026
Adjective
  • Typical symptoms include fever, rash, body aches, headache, nausea and vomiting.
    Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 28 June 2026
  • People who have had chickenpox are at risk of developing the burning, itchy rash years or decades later.
    Lindsey Leake, NBC news, 28 June 2026
Adjective
  • The iconic fast food company has grown beyond its California roots in recent years, opening locations in Colorado, Texas, Idaho, and as far east as Tennessee.
    James Powel, USA Today, 7 July 2026
  • From climate change to drug discovery, quantum computing is expected to be solve problems at a pace where even the fastest supercomputers appear to be slow-moving snails.
    Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 6 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hasty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hasty. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on hasty

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster