lightning

adjective

Definition of lightningnext
as in rapid
moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed he made a lightning dash for the goal

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 lightning Digital assets are moving at hyper-lightning speed. — Manny Khan, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lightning
  1. rapid
  2. quick
  3. fast
  4. brisk
  5. galloping
  6. swift
Adjective
  • Seen through this lens, rising demand for in-person connection amid the rapid expansion of technology is not a contradiction.
    — Davis Noell, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The project signals continued demand for rapid-deployment energy infrastructure.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of rapid
Adjective
  • Here’s a quick primer on the leading agents and tips for how to start.
    — Marty Swant, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Naz Reid struck fire midway through the fourth, executing, in quick succession, plays on both ends of the court.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of quick
Adjective
  • In March 2026, China approved the world’s first commercially available brain-computer interface medical device, a milestone that pointed to ambitions extending well beyond low-cost production or fast-follow imitation.
    — Ruby Wang, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2026
  • The uptick in earnings came as factory-gate prices rose at their fastest pace since mid-2022, driven by higher energy and raw material prices amid the Middle East conflict.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of fast
Adjective
  • There’s a lot packed into that paragraph, but Ribaudo is adept at keeping the narrative brisk and compelling.
    — Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Over Zoom on a brisk morning back home in Korea, Jeon has just experienced a whirlwind of a month.
    — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of brisk
Adjective
  • As his health faded in the last year of his life, Neruda rushed to finish his story, which gives the last chapters of his book a galloping, fragmented quality.
    — Tunku Varadarajan, WSJ, 25 June 2021
  • Designed by renowned architect Dominique Perrault, its four stories tilting forward are said to evoke a galloping horse.
    — Rob Hodgetts at Longchamp, CNN, 15 Oct. 2019
Definition of galloping
Adjective
  • The Royals made swift changes by reassigning hitting coach Alec Zumwalt and clearing out their entire training staff.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The storm on Wednesday that may have spawned a tornado was one in a barrage of strong storms across Southern California this week that caused localized flooding, strong rains and high winds, including a swift-water rescue in Los Angeles.
    — Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of swift

Phrases Containing lightning

Browse Nearby Words

lightness
lightning
lightning rod
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lightning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lightning. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on lightning

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lightning

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