quick 1 of 3

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as in fast
having or showing quickness of mind a quick lad, he immediately caught on to how the machinery operated

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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quick

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adverb

quick

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noun

as in heart
the seat of one's deepest thoughts and emotions that nasty comment cut me to the quick

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective quick contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of quick are apt, prompt, and ready. While all these words mean "able to respond without delay or hesitation or indicative of such ability," quick stresses instancy of response and is likely to connote native rather than acquired power.

quick reflexes
a keen quick mind

When is apt a more appropriate choice than quick?

The words apt and quick can be used in similar contexts, but apt stresses the possession of qualities (such as intelligence, a particular talent, or a strong bent) that makes quick effective response possible.

an apt student
her answer was apt and to the point

Where would prompt be a reasonable alternative to quick?

While the synonyms prompt and quick are close in meaning, prompt is more likely to connote training and discipline that fits one for instant response.

prompt emergency medical care

When is it sensible to use ready instead of quick?

The meanings of ready and quick largely overlap; however, ready suggests facility or fluency in response.

backed by a pair of ready assistants

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 quick
Adjective
Artem Bolshakov/iStock / Getty Images Plus TikTok users were quick to weigh in on Wilson's video, with many finding the décor both hilarious and oddly appealing. Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025 Five hours into her Billboard photo shoot, a slight wardrobe malfunction with her black dress is prompting a quick timeout. Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2025
Adverb
Before race day, grab a PB crunch toast topped with banana and honey for quick-digesting carbs or an açai bowl made with coconut water for some extra hydration. Sunny Hubler, Charlotte Observer, 27 Aug. 2025 The idea behind this is to increase airflow and heat transfer into the base of the pizza to allow quicker and more even crisping. Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025
Noun
The left-arm quick picked up the invaluable wicket of Virat Kohli, widely regarded as one of the greatest batters in history, who went out facing his first ball, and then Netravalkar got the wicket of India captain Rohit Sharma. Thomas Schlachter, CNN, 12 June 2024 Stress hormones flood your system, making your heart pound, your blood pressure rise, your breath quicks, your thoughts race…and none of it is super conducive to feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. Anna Borges, SELF, 21 Dec. 2023 See All Example Sentences for quick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quick
Adjective
  • Newsom issued a swift response via social media.
    Callum Sutherland, Time, 3 Sep. 2025
  • The best responses are blunt, swift, and leave no space between words and action.
    Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • This is how long each of the players to score 100 goals in the competition took to reach their centuries, with Messi (123 games) just edging out Lewandowski (125) as the fastest of the trio.
    Will Jeanes, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Meanwhile, his day job may be entering a new phase as fledgling companies leave the nest and head off on their own — faster than new ones launch.
    Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.
    CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2025
  • The shift follows decades of rapid economic growth since the market reforms of the late 1980s, coupled with rising urban living costs and changing generational attitudes toward family planning.
    Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Shi seemed confident that Strand Larsen, who was keen to join Newcastle United before the deadline, will knuckle down despite Wolves rejecting two bids.
    Steve Madeley, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
  • This is not the 21st-century China that the state is keen to project in films that play abroad — and these characters are not model 21st-century Chinese, either.
    Adam Solomons, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • By reprogramming ordinary cells—like skin fibroblasts—into stem cells, scientists hope to create eggs and sperm from individuals long gone.
    Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
  • So many firsts, gone, charred to ash, just remnants of an area that once represented Black prosperity and joy.
    Maya Richard-Craven, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
Adverb
  • The Justice Department provided the files in response to a subpoena from the committee, but Democrats and some Republicans quickly noted that the cache was made up mostly of material already available in the public domain.
    Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
  • Antisemitism, white supremacy, conspiracy theories, even school shooter videos quickly flood young men’s and even children’s timelines, said Miller-Idriss, the Manosphere researcher.
    Will Carless, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Kahan, known for his raw anthems, offers more insight into the inner workings of his heart in his lyrics than in public comments.
    Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
  • This isn’t the first study to suggest the importance of breakfast for living a long life—research has shown that regularly eating a morning meal is linked with lower overall and heart-related mortality (and that bypassing it can up your heart-disease risk).
    Erica Sloan, SELF, 4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • That's bad news for Arizonans hoping to catch a sight of the spacecraft soaring overheard, but those willing to make a trip to the launch site in the neighboring state will still be treated to an incredible view of the Falcon 9 blasting off from the ground.
    Eric Lagatta, AZCentral.com, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Bantin's post suggests the developer wasn't willing to compromise the port's quality by squeezing that content through the relatively narrow 400 MB/s bus of a physical Switch 2 card.
    Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 5 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Quick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quick. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.

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