swift 1 of 2

swift

2 of 2

adverb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective swift contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of swift are expeditious, fast, fleet, hasty, quick, rapid, and speedy. While all these words mean "moving, proceeding, or acting with celerity," swift suggests great rapidity coupled with ease of movement.

returned the ball with one swift stroke

When can expeditious be used instead of swift?

The words expeditious and swift are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, expeditious suggests efficiency together with rapidity of accomplishment.

the expeditious handling of an order

How are the words fast and rapid related as synonyms of swift?

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

fast horses

When would fleet be a good substitute for swift?

The synonyms fleet and swift are sometimes interchangeable, but fleet adds the implication of lightness and nimbleness.

fleet runners

When is hasty a more appropriate choice than swift?

The meanings of hasty and swift largely overlap; however, hasty suggests hurry and precipitousness and often connotes carelessness.

a hasty inspection

In what contexts can quick take the place of swift?

Although the words quick and swift have much in common, quick suggests promptness and the taking of little time.

a quick wit

Where would rapid be a reasonable alternative to swift?

In some situations, the words rapid and swift are roughly equivalent. However, rapid applies to the movement itself, rather than to the thing that moves.

rapid current

When could speedy be used to replace swift?

While the synonyms speedy and swift are close in meaning, speedy implies quickness of successful accomplishment and may also suggest unusual velocity.

speedy delivery of mail

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 swift
Adjective
The arrests came after town halls across the country have become heated, as constituents from both parties expressed concern over President Donald Trump's swift and far-reaching staffing cuts. Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025 Added to his roster of crazy powers are faster-than-light flight, molecular manipulation, and swift regeneration. Jeff Spry, Space.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Adverb
As of Monday, Golden Police Chief Bill Kilpatrick and Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Schrader are restricting water activities on Clear Creek because of swift-moving water and floating debris. Kirk Mitchell, The Denver Post, 1 July 2019 By The Numbers 5 The forecast for Colorado’s 2019 whitewater rafting season: Rad, thanks to epic snowfall this winter that will likely spell swift-moving rivers. Joe Nguyen, The Denver Post, 19 June 2019 See All Example Sentences for swift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swift
Adjective
  • The school’s rapid closure comes as it was already eyed by the district for a long-term closure as part of an ongoing facilities master plan.
    Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Apr. 2025
  • That’s a rapid ascent that only the biggest names in the genre can manage.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Adverb
  • China’s leaders seem to expect America’s political feedback loop will kick in quicker and sharper for Trump than for Xi Jinping.
    Ryan Hass, Time, 25 Apr. 2025
  • The company, which was founded nearly a decade ago, has hit $1 billion in revenue quicker than any other precision oncology lab company, per the analyst.
    Hakyung Kim, CNBC, 21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Think: a brisk stair climb between Zoom calls, a few yoga stretches before breakfast, or a quick round of squats at the top of each hour.
    Ximena Araya-Fischel, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
  • While its cozy fabric will serve you well on brisk spring evenings, its lightweight design is easy to throw over your shoulders for added texture once temperatures rise.
    Averi Baudler, People.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Wesley Watson, 84, was killed in a three-car crash near a fast food restaurant in Concord, a little before 6 p.m. on Aug. 18, 2022.
    Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 28 Apr. 2025
  • There are two drying modes on offer: fast and quiet.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 27 Apr. 2025
Adverb
  • The South, for its part, responded in kind: secession swiftly forged a fractured region into a reactive unity, bound by fear of emancipation and faith in a mythic agrarian freedom.
    Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Editors’ Picks Lawyers for the migrants said the administration appeared to be mobilizing an effort to swiftly deport another group under the wartime powers act.
    Hamed Aleaziz, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
Adverb
  • PepsiCo lowered its full-year profit outlook, while Procter & Gamble cut its earnings forecast and warned that consumers should expect higher prices soon.
    Bernhard Warner, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
  • The Face on the News The first the world at large saw of Leake came soon after his arrest in June 2023, when Russian media released a video filmed at a detention center in Moscow.
    David Browne, Rolling Stone, 26 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Swift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swift. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on swift

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!