HASTY Synonyms: 110 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

hasty

adjective

ˈhā-stē

Definition of hasty

as in hurried

acting or done with excessive or careless speed Anna later regretted her hasty decision to sell her car

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in rapid

moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed we all wish our sick friend a hasty recovery

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 The woman understood from her hasty reading that perhaps all miracles could be attributed to saints and angels if they were experienced by a believer. — Ellen O’Connell Whittet, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2026 Retail investors flooded into private credit in recent years only to stage a hasty retreat in early 2026. — Michelle Fox, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026 Over the next few months, Caroline, who wanted to get into the house quickly, and Raymond made hasty decisions to speed up the move-in process. — Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2026 Over time, these hasty constructions gave way to sites that still define New York, like the vast Reflecting Absence memorial at the World Trade Center site, a garden in northern Manhattan, and a memorial on the shores of Staten Island. — Robert W. Snyder, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hasty

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hasty

Adjective

Homemade enchiladas might sound like a laborious weekend project, but with a few clever tricks, this version made with black beans and pumpkin can be whipped up on even the most hurried of work nights.

— Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 Oct. 2026
Dooley emphasized the preliminary nature of the ruling and the hurried nature of the litigation preceding it in a short, 12-page decision.

— Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of hurried

Adjective

In early 2025, the organization relaunched its rapid response online efforts under a new brand, @FactPostNews, an account intentionally designed to look like an independent news aggregator, not a messaging arm of the party.

— Max Tani, semafor.com, 9 Nov. 2026
Huang has said that this system gives his company the flexibility to react to rapid changes in technology and remain agile.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2026

Definition of rapid

Adjective

Critics, including Commissioners Christine King and Damian Pardo, call it a rushed effort that could be paid for with existing tax dollars without asking voters for more.

— Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
The teen’s family has said this was a rushed judgment that did not involve a thorough enough investigation.

— Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026

Definition of rushed

Adjective

With the lesson learned from last year, TCU made sure to get off to a much quicker start as the Horned Frogs’ new roster shined against the Lions.

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Nov. 2026
Next year, if Democrats claim the majority in both chambers, the GOP can’t expect quick dismissals.

— Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of quick

Adjective

But last Christmas, the designer went out on an impulsive—and what would prove to be fateful—run through Paris along the Seine, the city’s famous central waterway.

— Max Berlinger, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2026
In many instances Rama approaches difficult situations with restraint and adherence to dharma (righteous conduct), whereas Lakshmana is expressive, impulsive, quick to anger, and distrustful.

— Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of impulsive

Adjective

On a brisk Saturday in October, more than 80 people try to shuffle into the small Corner Bookstore in New York City's Upper East Side.

— Gili Malinsky, CNBC, 8 Nov. 2026
Ticket sales have been so brisk that Center Theatre Group has already booked the show again for next season.

— Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of brisk

Adjective

That’s the kind of rash move the franchise has largely avoided for the past couple of decades.

— Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026
Amid the turmoil of mass student protests in the streets of Belgrade, two young people are bonded by a rash act of rebellion, despite their outwardly incompatible ideologies.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of rash

Adjective

The second Thanksgiving recipe of the season is coming in hot with this delicious, fast and easy sausage stuffing that uses only five ingredients and comes together in under 30 minutes.

— Candy Hom, AJC.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Patients diagnosed before 45 face a faster loss of blood sugar control, earlier cardiovascular complications and a shorter overall life expectancy than those diagnosed later in life.

— Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of fast

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“Hasty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hasty. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

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