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
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Recent Examples of instant
Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
Ina taught me that mascarpone cheese and fresh ginger are almost instant ways to turn up the volume on the flavor of a classic cream cheese frosting.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Nov. 2025
Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Oct. 2025
But in December, Assad’s repressive regime – which had always denied capturing or killing Tice – collapsed in an instant.
—Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for instant
Adjective
With nothing but West Ham’s rapidly retreating defence in front of him, and an instant four-on-four, Guimaraes drove forward before picking out Murphy to his right, in a position to isolate left-back El Hadji Malick Diouf with a one-vs-one.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
Ina taught me that mascarpone cheese and fresh ginger are almost instant ways to turn up the volume on the flavor of a classic cream cheese frosting.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Nov. 2025
Noun
Bake at 350°F for 40 minutes (the skillets) to 1 hour (the square baking dishes), or until the top is brown from edge to edge and an instant-read thermometer in the center of the dressing reads 165°F.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Oct. 2025
But in December, Assad’s repressive regime – which had always denied capturing or killing Tice – collapsed in an instant.
—Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for instant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instant
Adjective
-
The effect was almost instantaneous, like turning a key in a lock.—
Sean Williams,
Outside,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Sea-Intelligence modeled the European import surge under different scenarios, ranging from an instantaneous switch back to the Suez by all shipping lines, to a more gradual phase-in over two, four or six weeks.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Singing this material with players who improvise — solos changing, every version being a little different — taught me about that urgent live-ensemble space where everyone’s living and dying by the next player onstage.—
Shirley Halperin,
Rolling Stone,
5 Nov. 2025
-
This urgent political thriller about Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter Seymour Hersh opened the 2025 Venice International Film Festival before moving on to Telluride, Toronto, New York and London.—
Addie Morfoot,
Variety,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Taichito’s current location is unknown.—
Kim Aris,
Time,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Soon, Wegovy and Zepbound will be sold on a new website—dubbed TrumpRx—for only about $250 a month, a fraction of their current retail price of more than $1,000.—
Nicholas Florko,
The Atlantic,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Deputies found Chastain minutes after the attack and took him into custody.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Malik Reneau, a Miami native and Indiana transfer, led the Hurricanes with 22 points in 23 minutes on 9-of-15 shooting.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
These trends will have immediate electoral consequences.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
What set him apart early was his willingness to apply his technical knowledge to fields and tasks that went beyond his immediate responsibilities.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The more jihadist terrorists attack and displace civilian populations — who become refugees in their own country — the more poverty, already acute at 60%, rises and religious freedoms are suppressed.—
Kingsley Moghalu,
semafor.com,
10 Nov. 2025
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But Michael has also hit several roadblocks, with the King of Pop's past legal troubles haunting the production and Jackson's daughter, Paris, decrying its depiction of her late father, who died in 2009 from acute propofol intoxication.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Martinez and Ruiz were present in court Wednesday and both have entered not guilty pleas to a federal charge of assaulting, resisting or impeding federal officers.—
Omar Jimenez,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The moment captured the continuity of past and present, of one generation handing down culinary traditions to the next.—
Robert F. Moss,
Southern Living,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The second would put the party’s weight behind the more time-intensive, partisan pursuit of bigger health care changes.—
Eleanor Mueller,
semafor.com,
12 Nov. 2025
-
But the evening wasn’t without late-game drama, as the Wildcats choked away an early 18-point lead as the 49ers cut the margin down to two with less than 30 seconds to play.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Instant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instant. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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