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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 hasty If heroism is more your thing, there’s Genevieve O’Reilly shaming Chuck Schumer to death from the Senate floor and then beating her hasty retreat, or Adria Arjona playing Bix’s mental degradation after suffering so much, only to pull herself back from the brink. Joe Reid, Vulture, 24 May 2025 But no use wringing your hands over a hasty purchase. Philip Galanes, New York Times, 21 May 2025 Stewart’s return partly answered the question of who would host The Daily Show, a question that had been asked for well over a year after Noah’s hasty departure. Peter White, Deadline, 6 June 2025 And the White House thinks now is a good time to drop everything and do a hasty bilateral trade deal? Trade agreements are wildly complicated affairs in the best of times, taking several months, even years. William Pesek, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for hasty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hasty
Adjective
  • Yet in spite of its rather hurried origins, it’s gone on to become a General Motors success story in the quarter-century since it was created.
    Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 17 June 2025
  • And the hurried pace of the deportations has ignored due process, experts and advocates say.
    Savannah Kuchar, USA Today, 10 June 2025
Adjective
  • But without affordable renewables (or rapid breakthroughs in nuclear fusion) the electricity to feed all those AI data centers may not arrive in time.
    Christopher Helman, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • Stay open to rapid communication, travel opportunities, or passionate connections.
    Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • By 1977, the Trans Am’s power had diminished significantly compared to vehicles from the high-output era that came to a quick close following the 1973 oil crisis, one that took the wind out of performance.
    Robert Ross, Robb Report, 27 June 2025
  • From Piggly Wiggly to gas station, deli to sit-down-restaurant, most quick lunch establishments (and the Southerners that lovingly and critically frequent them) take the flavor, texture, and temperature of their chicken salads extremely seriously.
    Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • Written and directed by documentarian Brian Tetsuro Ivie (Emanuel) in his narrative directorial debut, the film tells the story of an impulsive young woman and a reclusive older man who launch on a poignant cross‑country road trip.
    Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 26 June 2025
  • Unfortunately, impulsive, inventory-optimization metric chasing often soothes symptoms while elevating strategic risk.
    Noah Barsky, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
Adjective
  • The finish is brisk with balanced acidity and a soft texture.
    Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
  • Examples of beneficial exercise include brisk walking, running, or cycling.
    Jamie Johnson, Verywell Health, 24 June 2025
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, President Donald Trump's new aim at Federal Reserve Chairman Powell may also accelerate bets for faster rate cuts.
    Medora Lee, USA Today, 27 June 2025
  • California’s budget is not limitless, and a good program should not be measured by how fast it’s depleted.
    Roger Niello, HollywoodReporter, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • In Ron DeSantis’ Florida, there’s no room for rash criticism of that policy.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 10 June 2025
  • The Dodgers stormed back once again from a deficit, this time at home at Dodger Stadium, scoring four runs in the sixth inning to knock off the Yankees, 8-5, in the first of a three-game set that’ll draw more rash reactions than are probably warranted.
    Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 31 May 2025
Adjective
  • Smith’s swift ascent has exceeded the already enormous expectations Houston had for him.
    Chandler Rome, New York Times, 28 June 2025
  • The Nets’ final move of the 2025 NBA Draft was a swift Day 2 trade.
    C.J. Holmes, New York Daily News, 27 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Hasty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hasty. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.

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