RAPIDLY Synonyms: 52 Similar and Opposite Words

rapidly

adverb

Definition of rapidly

as in quickly

with great speed summer vacation has gone by way too rapidly

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 rapidly The blaze had grown rapidly through the day, driven by gusty winds, low humidity and dry brush. — Martin Goillandeau, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026 The episode illustrated the advantages and dangers of the rapidly developing technology—and what business leaders can learn from using AI to help manage a business crisis. — Edward Segal, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026 The companies said the system went from concept to live demonstration in six months, highlighting their efforts to rapidly integrate existing defense technology onto commercial unmanned vessels. — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 22 Aug. 2026 Today, Nobu encompasses almost 60 restaurants and a rapidly growing portfolio of hotels and residential developments. — Nick Scott, Robb Report, 22 Aug. 2026 Excess construction materials exported from China, together with Chinese construction services, helped casinos, special economic zones, and scam compounds develop rapidly in Southeast Asia while supporting Chinese export revenues. — Alvin Camba, Foreign Affairs, 21 Aug. 2026 Indeed, the team behind this research believes this hum of spacetime ripples could help explain how supermassive black holes grew so rapidly before the universe was even a billion years old. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 21 Aug. 2026 Rather rapidly, coaches helped teach him more about his arsenal, what worked and what didn’t. — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026 The Taliban rapidly captured provinces and took control of key cities. — Andrew Pereira, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rapidly

Adverb

Some come so quickly that there’s barely time to process how they were accomplished.

— Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
Besides faulty lactose digestion, nonwhite bodies were accused of other failures, too, such as aldehyde dehydrogenase deficiency, an inability to digest alcohol quickly.

— Hilary Smith, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of quickly

Adverb

The additional personnel — and coordination with Fever, league and arena security and the Chicago Police Department — made Alter feel confident the team could intervene swiftly if Kanter Freedom crossed a line.

— Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
He was acquitted in 2020, but was swiftly rearrested on charges linking him to Turkey’s 2016 coup attempt.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of swiftly

Adverb

The program is built around a vision of cinema and technology developing side by side, with a scope that runs from brand-film partnerships to the fast-growing microdrama business.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
Parents these days have a lot on their plate, not least an increasingly digitized, discerning set of kids fast approaching term time.

— Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of fast

Adverb

In 2023, Diamond Crystal introduced baking salt, a fine salt that dissolves quicker, melting into dough and batters.

— Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Copper became the fastest player in franchise history to score 2,000 points with Phoenix, doing so in 103 games, a game quicker than Diana Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter.

— ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of quick

Adverb

For years, America's been in the chokehold of unnecessarily oversized pickup trucks, but recent announcements of new vehicles show that common sense – and more reasonably proportioned utes – may soon prevail.

— Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 26 Aug. 2026
Robinson was expected to be an upgrade over veteran receiver Robert Woods, who was subsequently traded to the Tennessee Titans soon after the Robinson deal, but wasn’t able to achieve his previous levels of success.

— Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of soon

Browse Nearby Words

rapidity

rapidly

rapidness

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Rapidly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rapidly. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of rapidly

adverb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

kith

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 28

Why do we say 'break a leg'?

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes