RAPID Synonyms: 64 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'rapid' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of rapid are expeditious , fast , fleet , hasty , quick , speedy , and swift . While all these words mean "moving, proceeding, or acting with celerity," rapid applies to the movement itself, rather than to the thing that moves. // rapid current

Q: When would 'expeditious' be a good substitute for 'rapid'?

Although the words expeditious and rapid have much in common, expeditious suggests efficiency together with rapidity of accomplishment. // the expeditious handling of an order

Q: How are the words 'fast' and 'rapid' related?

Both fast and rapid are very close in meaning, but fast applies particularly to the thing that moves. // fast horses

Q: When is it sensible to use 'fleet' instead of 'rapid'?

The meanings of fleet and rapid largely overlap; however, fleet adds the implication of lightness and nimbleness. // fleet runners

Q: In what contexts can 'hasty' take the place of 'rapid'?

While in some cases nearly identical to rapid , hasty suggests hurry and precipitousness and often connotes carelessness. // a hasty inspection

Q: Where would 'quick' be a reasonable alternative to 'rapid'?

The synonyms quick and rapid are sometimes interchangeable, but quick suggests promptness and the taking of little time. // a quick wit

Q: When can 'speedy' be used instead of 'rapid'?

In some situations, the words speedy and rapid are roughly equivalent. However, speedy implies quickness of successful accomplishment and may also suggest unusual velocity. // speedy delivery of mail

Q: When might 'swift' be a better fit than 'rapid'?

The words swift and rapid are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, swift suggests great rapidity coupled with ease of movement. // returned the ball with one swift stroke

rapid

adjective

ˈra-pəd

Definition of rapid next

as in quick

moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed the rapid descent of the roller coaster made me feel very queasy

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How does the adjective rapid contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of rapid are expeditious, fast, fleet, hasty, quick, speedy, and swift. While all these words mean "moving, proceeding, or acting with celerity," rapid applies to the movement itself, rather than to the thing that moves.

rapid current

When would expeditious be a good substitute for rapid?

Although the words expeditious and rapid have much in common, expeditious suggests efficiency together with rapidity of accomplishment.

the expeditious handling of an order

How are the words fast and rapid related?

Both fast and rapid are very close in meaning, but fast applies particularly to the thing that moves.

fast horses

When is it sensible to use fleet instead of rapid?

The meanings of fleet and rapid largely overlap; however, fleet adds the implication of lightness and nimbleness.

fleet runners

In what contexts can hasty take the place of rapid?

While in some cases nearly identical to rapid, hasty suggests hurry and precipitousness and often connotes carelessness.

a hasty inspection

Where would quick be a reasonable alternative to rapid?

The synonyms quick and rapid are sometimes interchangeable, but quick suggests promptness and the taking of little time.

a quick wit

When can speedy be used instead of rapid?

In some situations, the words speedy and rapid are roughly equivalent. However, speedy implies quickness of successful accomplishment and may also suggest unusual velocity.

speedy delivery of mail

When might swift be a better fit than rapid?

The words swift and rapid are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, swift suggests great rapidity coupled with ease of movement.

returned the ball with one swift stroke

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 rapid At noon Saturday, as a shimmering MARTA train glides out of the Avondale transit station on an historic 15-minute journey, Atlanta will become the first city in the Southeast to operate a modern rail rapid-transit system. —

Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 30 June 2026 Modern thermal sights, digital battle management systems, drone integration, and rapid target sharing now play as significant a role in tank combat as armor thickness or engine power. —

Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 30 June 2026 Prices are subject to rapid, unpredictable changes due to factors like, but not limited to, supply/demand, weather, and geopolitical events. —

Usa Today, USA Today, 30 June 2026 This is plausibly the largest and most rapid infrastructure investment cycle in modern economic history. —

Ali Hoss, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for rapid

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rapid

Adjective

Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley There may still be questions about whether the romance between Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley was genuine, and their secret, quick-turn overseas wedding didn't help matters.

— Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 3 July 2026
But upon closer inspection Mbiya appears significantly leaner and quicker.

— Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026

Definition of quick

Adjective

Studies show that orgasms also relieve menstrual pain, lower blood pressure, enhance circulation, correlate with better cardiac functioning, and burn calories equivalent to thirty minutes of brisk walking.

— Melanie Thernstrom, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
The glacier carts and kiosks that dish out ice cream, soft serve and sorbets did brisk business all week.

— Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 27 June 2026

Definition of brisk

Adjective

Temperatures inside of cars can reach 125 degrees in minutes, even with windows cracked, and children overheat as much as five times faster than adults, the fact sheet said.

— Angie DiMichele, Sun Sentinel, 30 June 2026
From dream home to disaster But faster than a rushing river, that dream became a nightmare when disastrous flooding hit Kerr County last summer.

— Bo Evans, CBS News, 30 June 2026

Definition of fast

Adjective

Industry typically favors action, making swift decisions despite uncertainty, while academia prioritizes rigor, demanding thorough evidence to avoid costly errors.

— Shannon McKeen, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
The Verge’s David Pierce, Nilay Patel, and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy describe Fadell’s frustration with outdated, expensive temperature controls and his swift entry back into the product scene.

— David Pierce, The Verge, 28 June 2026

Definition of swift

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

All new large-scale generation including gas, wind, solar, batteries, and nuclear all face barriers to speedy deployment.

— Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Garcia Torres then invoked his speedy trial rights, leading to a July 13 deadline to begin formal trial proceedings.

— Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 29 June 2026