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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lightning
Adjective
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Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
10 Mar. 2026 -
At the edges of the channel, near the walls, Rout and Lim’s team saw rapid fluctuations of molecules — those were the wiggly nucleoporins.—
Yasemin Saplakoglu,
Quanta Magazine,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The veteran forward, re-acquired by the Panthers at the NHL trade deadline on Friday, made a quick impression in his first game back in South Florida with a goal and assist in Florida’s 4-3 come-from-behind win over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday at Amerant Bank Arena.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2026
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Experts interviewed by The Associated Press, citing satellite image analysis, say the school was probably struck amid a quick succession of bombs dropped on the compound.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The foundation of San Diego’s fast start has been an organized, increasingly authoritative defensive spine led by Christopher McVey, Manu Duah and Kieran Sargeant.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
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Online records show that Kayumi's parents have owned and worked at multiple Popeyes fast food locations, including in Philadelphia, Brooklyn and Atlantic City.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Neither team shot the ball well early, but the pace was brisk.—
Oc Register,
Oc Register,
6 Mar. 2026
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Moderate-intensity exercise is anything that feels somewhat challenging, but doesn’t completely wipe you out, like brisk walking or a steady jog.—
Danielle Zickl,
Outside,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
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Evan Wanner walked off the Class AA state championship in double overtime with a swift wrister past Jerdee, returning Moorhead to the summit of Minnesota high school hockey.—
Andrew Cornelius,
Twin Cities,
8 Mar. 2026
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An anonymous tip in August 2025 triggered a swift investigation, leading to Mays’ arrest and a sting operation the next month.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Lightning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lightning. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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