1
as in instantaneous
done or occurring without any noticeable lapse in time
an instant response to the cry for help
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in urgent
needing immediate attention
an instant need for food supplies in the famine-stricken country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in current
existing or in progress right now
we should be more concerned with instant dangers than with those in the far-off future
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in minute
a very small space of time
it all happened in an instant
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of instant
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
Add instant drama to any outfit with opera-length gloves this season no tickets required.
—Belle Bakst, InStyle, 6 Jan. 2026
Matthew Carey, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
The parents would say the tantrums strike in an instant, sometimes out of the blue.
—Michelle Fay Cortez, Bloomberg, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for instant
Adjective
Both books were instant New York Times bestsellers; the latter is set to make its paperback debut on June 30, 2026.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
Add instant drama to any outfit with opera-length gloves this season no tickets required.
—Belle Bakst, InStyle, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
But if walls can fall in an instant, perhaps the walls that divide us — between filmmaker and subject, between housed and unhoused, between past and future — can also come down.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
The parents would say the tantrums strike in an instant, sometimes out of the blue.
—Michelle Fay Cortez, Bloomberg, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for instant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instant
Adjective
-
The news cycle has gotten shorter in the 2020s, in large part thanks to social media and the instantaneous spread of information.—
Lev Akabas,
Sportico.com,
8 Jan. 2026
-
But by 2026, the sheer magnitude of the debt means the impact of rate hikes is instantaneous, and thus, counterproductive.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
And there is another urgent area requiring our attention.—
Sacramento Bee staff,
Sacbee.com,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The administration’s enthusiasm to improve America’s health has real, urgent promise.—
Jerome Adams,
Fortune,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Act fast to shop Amazon’s current hottest deals because prices aren’t guaranteed to last through the month.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
-
The ardent fan can’t expect this running game to produce 164 yards in its current state; the reasonable fan of any NFL team can’t expect to go 10-for-18 on third- and fourth-downs, either.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Tied at 19, the Chiefs got the ball back with four minutes left, with the chance to march for a game-winning field goal.—
Jesse Newell,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
There can be 30 minutes of small waves before a sneaker wave strikes.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The highly skilled team — including neonatologists, nurses, respiratory therapists, and pediatric specialists — provides immediate access to advanced treatments and technology, improving outcomes and offering families peace of mind.—
MemorialCare Medical Group,
Oc Register,
10 Jan. 2026
-
The video also appeared to depict the officers did not take immediate steps to ensure that Good received emergency medical care after the shooting took place.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
While these changes will impact the country as a whole, the effect here in Indiana could be particularly acute, environmentalists say.—
Karl Schneider,
IndyStar,
6 Jan. 2026
-
On January 5, less than one week after Tatiana died at just 35 years old of acute myeloid leukemia on December 30, Jack honored her with several moving quotes—including one from Tatiana herself.—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Many drivers forget to update their policy, however, leaving them with coverage that no longer fits their present circumstances.—
Ethan M. Stone,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Other volunteers were present and documented the encounter.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Kane opened the scoring on a two-man advantage with 29 seconds left in the first period.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Instead, Prairie View A&M was forced to foul on the other end, and UAPB guard Kristyna Boyd made one of her two fouls shots with 10 seconds to go to set the final score.—
Erick Taylor,
Arkansas Online,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Instant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instant. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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