HASTY Synonyms: 110 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of hasty are expeditious , fast , fleet , quick , rapid , speedy , and swift . While all these words mean "moving, proceeding, or acting with celerity," hasty suggests hurry and precipitousness and often connotes carelessness. // a hasty inspection

Q: When is 'expeditious' a more appropriate choice than 'hasty'?

The words expeditious and hasty can be used in similar contexts, but expeditious suggests efficiency together with rapidity of accomplishment. // the expeditious handling of an order

Q: How are the words 'fast' and 'rapid' related as synonyms of 'hasty'?

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

Q: When could 'fleet' be used to replace 'hasty'?

In some situations, the words fleet and hasty are roughly equivalent. However, fleet adds the implication of lightness and nimbleness. // fleet runners

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

Although the words quick and hasty have much in common, quick suggests promptness and the taking of little time. // a quick wit

Q: When can 'rapid' be used instead of 'hasty'?

The synonyms rapid and hasty are sometimes interchangeable, but rapid applies to the movement itself, rather than to the thing that moves. // rapid current

Q: When is it sensible to use 'speedy' instead of 'hasty'?

While in some cases nearly identical to hasty , speedy implies quickness of successful accomplishment and may also suggest unusual velocity. // speedy delivery of mail

Q: Where would 'swift' be a reasonable alternative to 'hasty'?

While the synonyms swift and hasty are close in meaning, swift suggests great rapidity coupled with ease of movement. // returned the ball with one swift stroke

hasty

adjective

ˈhā-stē

Definition of hasty

as in hurried

acting or done with excessive or careless speed Anna later regretted her hasty decision to sell her car

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in rapid

moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed we all wish our sick friend a hasty recovery

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective hasty contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of hasty are expeditious, fast, fleet, quick, rapid, speedy, and swift. While all these words mean "moving, proceeding, or acting with celerity," hasty suggests hurry and precipitousness and often connotes carelessness.

a hasty inspection

When is expeditious a more appropriate choice than hasty?

The words expeditious and hasty can be used in similar contexts, but 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 hasty?

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

fast horses

When could fleet be used to replace hasty?

In some situations, the words fleet and hasty are roughly equivalent. However, fleet adds the implication of lightness and nimbleness.

fleet runners

When would quick be a good substitute for hasty?

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

a quick wit

When can rapid be used instead of hasty?

The synonyms rapid and hasty are sometimes interchangeable, but rapid applies to the movement itself, rather than to the thing that moves.

rapid current

When is it sensible to use speedy instead of hasty?

While in some cases nearly identical to hasty, speedy implies quickness of successful accomplishment and may also suggest unusual velocity.

speedy delivery of mail

Where would swift be a reasonable alternative to hasty?

While the synonyms swift and hasty are close in meaning, 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 hasty Over time, these hasty constructions gave way to sites that still define New York, like the vast Reflecting Absence memorial at the World Trade Center site, a garden in northern Manhattan, and a memorial on the shores of Staten Island. — Robert W. Snyder, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026 Lawyers representing the defendants had criticized the timing of the hearing, saying they were notified only three days before Thursday’s court hearing, arguing that the short notice was hasty and left them without time to prepare their defense. — ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026 Cooper also previously temporarily prevented the administration from closing the venue for the renovation project by ruling that the board’s decision was too hasty. — Emily R. Condon, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026 Experts say that the rising cost of travel and vacations may be pushing people to hasty decisions and less vigilance. — Vince Basada, Sacbee.com, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hasty

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hasty

Adjective

Homemade enchiladas might sound like a laborious weekend project, but with a few clever tricks, this version made with black beans and pumpkin can be whipped up on even the most hurried of work nights.

— Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 Oct. 2026
Dooley emphasized the preliminary nature of the ruling and the hurried nature of the litigation preceding it in a short, 12-page decision.

— Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of hurried

Adjective

Critics, including Commissioners Christine King and Damian Pardo, call it a rushed effort that could be paid for with existing tax dollars without asking voters for more.

— Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
The teen’s family has said this was a rushed judgment that did not involve a thorough enough investigation.

— Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026

Definition of rushed

Adjective

Some people may also become more impulsive, choosing the quickest or easiest option simply to avoid the stress of making a decision.

— Kriti Kumar, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2026
Add to that discretionary recurring expenses like streaming subscriptions and some impulsive spending, and individuals can easily wind up with little room between their income and their expenses, Olson says.

— Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of impulsive

Adjective

Amid the turmoil of mass student protests in the streets of Belgrade, two young people are bonded by a rash act of rebellion, despite their outwardly incompatible ideologies.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 27 Oct. 2026
Psychiatrist and author Suzan Song has seen her clients make some rash decisions lately.

— Gili Malinsky, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of rash

Adjective

In March 2026, China approved the world’s first commercially available brain-computer interface medical device, a milestone that pointed to ambitions extending well beyond low-cost production or fast-follow imitation.

— Ruby Wang, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2026
The uptick in earnings came as factory-gate prices rose at their fastest pace since mid-2022, driven by higher energy and raw material prices amid the Middle East conflict.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of fast

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has to do with

hasty

hat

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“Hasty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hasty. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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