Synonyms of speed

speed 1 of 2

noun

ˈspēd 

1

as in velocity

a high rate of movement or performance

we dashed off the remaining paperwork with as much speed as possible so we could leave for the long weekend

Synonyms & Similar Words

• velocity
• rate
• hurry
• pace
• quickness
• rapidity
• swiftness
• acceleration
• celerity
• speediness
• haste
• fleetness
• rapidness
• fastness
• tempo
• gait
• clip
• drive
• hustle
• precipitation
• rush
• promptness
• alacrity
• expedition
• promptitude
• dispatch
• hastiness
• precipitousness
• warp speed
• expeditiousness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• slowness
• sluggishness
• lethargy
• reluctance
• languor
• torpidity
• torpor
• deliberation
• leisureliness
• deliberateness
• languidness
• procrastination
• lateness
• dilatoriness
• pokiness

2

as in favorite

a person or thing that is preferred over others

that kind of old-fashioned horror movie is just my speed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• favorite
• preference
• cup of tea
• pet
• darling
• minion
• beloved
• fave
• treasure
• dear
• prize
• sweetheart
• jewel

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• abomination
• anathema
• bugbear
• bête noire

speed

2 of 2

verb

as in to race

to proceed or move quickly

a bullet train speeding across the lush countryside

Synonyms & Similar Words

• race
• hurry
• travel
• rush
• drive
• fly
• trot
• zip
• scurry
• chase
• jump
• run
• buzz
• blow
• scoot
• dart
• dash
• motor
• step
• zoom
• ram
• blast
• tear
• rip
• jog
• breeze
• jet
• scuttle
• whirl
• career
• bolt
• hustle
• bowl
• course
• shoot
• rocket
• hasten
• blaze
• crack (on)
• hare
• belt
• whisk
• hurtle
• barrel
• hump
• hie
• hurl
• gallop
• bundle
• careen
• step on it
• beat it
• rustle
• highball
• get a move on
• make tracks
• bomb
• bustle
• pelt
• nip
• cannonball
• accelerate
• shake a leg
• sprint
• hotfoot (it)
• streak
• flit
• scamper
• quicken
• whiz
• outrun
• beetle
• overtake
• stampede
• step out
• outpace
• outstrip
• catch up
• scud
• arrow
• scuffle
• fast-forward
• beeline

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• creep
• crawl
• drag
• lag
• hang (around or out)
• poke
• linger
• dawdle
• loiter
• poke
• shuffle
• tarry
• stroll
• amble
• slow (down or up)
• decelerate
• lumber
• saunter
• plod
• dillydally
• dally

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun speed contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of speed are dispatch, expedition, haste, and hurry. While all these words mean "quickness in movement or action," speed suggests swift efficiency in movement or action.

exercises to increase your reading speed

How are the words expedition and dispatch related as synonyms of speed?

Expedition and dispatch both imply speed and efficiency in handling affairs but expedition stresses ease or efficiency of performance and dispatch stresses promptness in concluding matters.

the case came to trial with expedition

paid bills with dispatch

Where would haste be a reasonable alternative to speed?

The words haste and speed can be used in similar contexts, but haste applies to personal action and implies urgency and precipitancy and often rashness.

marry in haste

When might hurry be a better fit than speed?

The synonyms hurry and speed are sometimes interchangeable, but hurry often has a strong suggestion of agitated bustle or confusion.

in the hurry of departure she forgot her toothbrush

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of speed

Noun

Nearly 300 people are killed every year in traffic crashes in the city, with speed serving as the leading factor in the collisions. — Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

The skin barrier, the outer layer that holds water in, gets leakier with age, so moisture loss speeds up compared with your 30s. — Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026

Verb

The chip went from initial design to manufacturing tape-out in nine months, with OpenAI’s models used to speed up parts of the design and optimization process. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2026

Tensor Cores are specialized parts of NVIDIA GPUs designed to speed up AI calculations. — Aman Kumar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing speed

• at speed
• full speed ahead
• speed (up)