Synonym Chooser

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 Meme stocks are company stocks that gain popularity through online communities and social media, often leading to rapid price fluctuations. Ricardo Torres, jsonline.com, 26 July 2025 The 1964 repeal of the Bracero Program, which for 22 years allowed Mexican immigrants to temporarily work on farms throughout the United States, had rapid consequences for Indiana farms. Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 26 July 2025 Modular Applications Modular applications, containers and microservices allow rapid cloud-native development and seamless deployment of features tailored to customer requirements. Yu Fang, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025 Trump had for months resisted pressure from Kyiv and NATO allies to turn the screw on Putin, engaging directly with Russia and distancing from Ukraine in the hopes that smoothing U.S. relations with Moscow would bring about a rapid end to the war. Shane Croucher john Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for rapid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rapid
Adjective
  • Cutting the butter and cream cheese into smaller pieces and scattering them on top helps the pieces melt into the corn at a quicker and more even pace than if left whole.
    Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 21 July 2025
  • Raspberry Bites: Place a single white chocolate chip inside a raspberry for a quick, indulgent treat.
    Christina Manian, Health, 21 July 2025
Adjective
  • Making a brisk morning walk in the sun part of your daily routine can be a grounding, enjoyable experience.
    Ashley Olivine, Verywell Health, 23 July 2025
  • When measuring the nation's collective fitness, the good news is Americans are more likely to take a brisk walk, play pickleball or lift weights.
    Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 22 July 2025
Adjective
  • The Perseids is a strong, fast meteor shower featuring about 50 to 100 meteors per hour, per NASA.
    Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 21 July 2025
  • Kathy Bledsoe, 44, was working as manager at a Belleville outpost of the fast food chain on July 16, and at one point in the afternoon instructed a juvenile female to take out the trash, according to the Belleville Police Department.
    Chris Spargo, People.com, 21 July 2025
Adjective
  • The swift decline of Vidalia Mills in Louisiana—if it can even be said to have truly taken off—is a telling example.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 22 July 2025
  • If the governor opens the door to these projects, the blowback will be swift, vocal, and impossible to ignore.
    Laura Shindell, New York Daily News, 20 July 2025
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
  • The artist was in Times Square last week to offer his latest corrective, unveiling a massive bronze statue of a young African American man in urban streetwear sitting astride a galloping horse.
    NBC News, NBC News, 7 Oct. 2019
Adjective
  • Cora replaced Toro with pinch runner David Hamilton, and the speedy infielder immediately got himself into scoring position by stealing both second and third.
    Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 29 July 2025
  • The offense got the perfect matchup with a defensive end defending the speedy running back.
    Jon Machota, New York Times, 28 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rapid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rapid. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on rapid

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!