FAST Synonyms: 630 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of fast are expeditious , fleet , hasty , quick , rapid , speedy , and swift . While all these words mean "moving, proceeding, or acting with celerity," fast and rapid are very close in meaning, but fast applies particularly to the thing that moves. // fast horses

Q: When can 'expeditious' be used instead of 'fast'?

The words expeditious and fast are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, expeditious suggests efficiency together with rapidity of accomplishment. // the expeditious handling of an order

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

While the synonyms fleet and fast are close in meaning, fleet adds the implication of lightness and nimbleness. // fleet runners

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

Although the words hasty and fast have much in common, hasty suggests hurry and precipitousness and often connotes carelessness. // a hasty inspection

Q: When would 'quick' be a good substitute for 'fast'?

In some situations, the words quick and fast are roughly equivalent. However, quick suggests promptness and the taking of little time. // a quick wit

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

The meanings of rapid and fast largely overlap; however, rapid applies to the movement itself, rather than to the thing that moves. // rapid current

Q: When is 'speedy' a more appropriate choice than 'fast'?

The words speedy and fast can be used in similar contexts, but speedy implies quickness of successful accomplishment and may also suggest unusual velocity. // speedy delivery of mail

Q: When could 'swift' be used to replace 'fast'?

While in some cases nearly identical to fast , swift suggests great rapidity coupled with ease of movement. // returned the ball with one swift stroke

fast 1 of 4

adverb

Definition of fast

as in quickly

with great speed run as fast as you can to get help

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in quite

to a full extent or degree everyone in camp was fast asleep within minutes of hitting the sack

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fast

2 of 4

adjective

ˈfast

as in rapid

moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed the fast pace of construction resulted in our new house being done ahead of schedule

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in loyal

firm in one's allegiance to someone or something the two girls soon became fast and inseparable friends

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in tight

firmly positioned in place and difficult to dislodge the rusty, old screws are so fast in the fitting that there's no hope of getting them out

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in deceptive

given to or marked by cheating and deception rolling back odometers was just one of the fast practices that the used-car dealer was guilty of

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in sturdy

marked by the ability to withstand stress without structural damage or distortion as the storm approached, we checked to see that every thing on the outside of the house was fast and locked in position

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in short

not lasting for a considerable time after a fast explanation of the procedure, we were turned loose to do the work

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in quick

having or showing quickness of mind I don't know how to operate this machine, but I'm a fast learner

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fast

3 of 4

noun

as in famine

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

fast

4 of 4

verb

as in to diet

Related Words

diet

Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective fast contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of fast are expeditious, fleet, hasty, quick, rapid, speedy, and swift. While all these words mean "moving, proceeding, or acting with celerity," fast and rapid are very close in meaning, but fast applies particularly to the thing that moves.

fast horses

When can expeditious be used instead of fast?

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

the expeditious handling of an order

When is it sensible to use fleet instead of fast?

While the synonyms fleet and fast are close in meaning, fleet adds the implication of lightness and nimbleness.

fleet runners

In what contexts can hasty take the place of fast?

Although the words hasty and fast have much in common, hasty suggests hurry and precipitousness and often connotes carelessness.

a hasty inspection

When would quick be a good substitute for fast?

In some situations, the words quick and fast are roughly equivalent. However, quick suggests promptness and the taking of little time.

a quick wit

When might rapid be a better fit than fast?

The meanings of rapid and fast largely overlap; however, rapid applies to the movement itself, rather than to the thing that moves.

rapid current

When is speedy a more appropriate choice than fast?

The words speedy and fast can be used in similar contexts, but speedy implies quickness of successful accomplishment and may also suggest unusual velocity.

speedy delivery of mail

When could swift be used to replace fast?

While in some cases nearly identical to fast, 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 fast

Adverb

Green, who won NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2017, is being asked to get down the floor faster and not trail the play. — Jessica Golden,alex Sherman, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2026 Word travelled fast around Netflix that the meeting had gone south, at which point sources said Bajaria called Gerwig’s producer Amy Pascal to smooth things over. — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 20 Oct. 2026

Adjective

The environmental benefits of faster sewing robots are limited if a brand uses the efficiency gains to manufacture more products or fly more garments to market. — Jessica Binns, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2026 The brick-like look and modular philosophy are still here, but the internals have been rebuilt around a newer, faster sensor, with a far stronger push into cinema territory. — New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2026

Noun

Noodle kugel is a natural at Rosh Hashanah, Shabbat, or the break-fast after Yom Kippur, but don’t limit it to the holidays. — Sarah Jampel, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026 Some experts eat right away, while others wait until later in the morning to break their fast. — Cathy Cassata, HEALTH, 26 Aug. 2026

Verb

The program, which allows members to access thousands of dollars' worth of Anthropic's Claude products and credits, is part of the AI company's efforts to strengthen ties to fast growing companies and founders. — Justina Lee, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026 Certain groups should not fast at all, including pregnant or breastfeeding women, children and teenagers, people with type 1 diabetes and anyone with a history of eating disorders. — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fast

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fast

Adverb

With the interference removed, the transport molecules can quickly stick to the flexible base, while the new additive guides crystal growth and seals up flaws in the perovskite layer.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2026
Bolsonaro quickly refused to concede defeat and asked for the election results to be annulled after an evening of chaos at some polling places that followed a last-minute decision to extend voting by two hours.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of quickly

Adverb

But now, as everything online morphs into algorithmic social media, the case for concern has crystallized into something quite specific.

— Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Few sports have embraced the pursuit of new audiences quite like F1, the motorsport league acquired by Liberty Media nearly a decade ago.

— Sam Jacobs, Time, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of quite

Adjective

Some residents say Netanyahu failed to deliver security or attend to the north; others remain loyal and argue Israel should strike Hezbollah harder.

— Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Name brands still have loyal customers, but the momentum behind private label suggests recognizable packaging is no longer the deciding factor in what shoppers put in their carts.

— Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of loyal

Adjective

Opinion polls predict tight race Domestically, Vucic has pledged higher pensions and public sector salaries, investment in state healthcare and subsidies for young couples.

— Reuters, NBC news, 25 Oct. 2026
Both parties expect whoever wins in November to do so by a tight margin in a state of 738,000 people.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of tight

Adjective

But several Theranos staffers and journalists say Holmes was frequently deceptive and would lie repeatedly, especially when confronted with facts.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
California and Hawaii, for example, are two states that have banned sharing deceptive AI content about candidates in the months around an election.

— Jordi Calvet-Bademunt, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of deceptive

Adjective

Denim is a sturdy cotton textile that is woven in a twill pattern, creating a distinctive diagonal rib on the fabric’s surface.

— Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Oct. 2026
Carrying a large pump spray bottle and a small, sturdy brush, Caitlin Abrams stood before two starkly contrasting graves in a modest cemetery in western Vermont.

— Kimberlee Kruesi, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of sturdy

Adjective

That was soon followed by two short drives, both finished by junior running back Dylan Riley.

— Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 25 Oct. 2026
Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets of Paris in today’s demonstrations, which were described by a senior police officer, speaking to CNN affiliate BFMTV, as largely peaceful — until a short while ago.

— Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of short

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fastback

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“Fast.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fast. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of fast

adverb

adjective

noun

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

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