FAST Synonyms: 631 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 next

as in quickly

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

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Relevance

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as in quite

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

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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

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as in loyal

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

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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

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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

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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

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as in short

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

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as in quick

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

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fast

3 of 4

noun

as in famine

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fast

4 of 4

verb

as in to diet

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diet

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Try This Instead

For

Try This

a fast response

a quick response

a timely response

a speedy response

a rapid response

a same-day response

a fast pace

an accelerated pace

a swift pace

a rapid pace

a quick pace

a frantic pace

a fast track

a focused track

an expeditious track

a quick track

a rapid track

an advanced track

a fast service

a quick-response service

an efficient service

a prompt service

an instant service

a timely service

a fast growth

a rapid growth

a drastic growth

a swift growth

a sharp growth

a strong growth

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

Examples 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

But that day, the star spun around 2.4 billionths of a second faster than usual. —

Quanta Magazine, 6 Nov. 2024 Companies slow to adapt to flexibility, purpose and well-being will hemorrhage top talent faster than ever. —

Meridith Alexander, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

Adjective

Logging Continues: The Bureau of Land Management has allowed timber companies to cut these forests at a faster pace since Biden's executive order than in the decade that preceded it. —

April Ehrlich, ProPublica, 12 Nov. 2024 The Pixel's service indicator frequently displayed 5G UW, indicating it was connected to Verizon's fastest 5G network. —

PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024

Noun

During this time, people wake up before dawn to eat and break their fast in the evening after sunset for the month.6 Some religious fasts involve restricting certain foods rather than having a particular window of time to eat and drink. —

Jillian Kubala, Health, 9 July 2024 There are other versions, including the 16:8 fast, which involves fasting for 16 hours and then having an eight-hour window for eating, and the OMAD or One Meal A Day, which is a 23:1 pattern, where only one meal is consumed each day. —

Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week Uk, theweek, 12 June 2024

Verb

During this 24-hour period, observant Jewish people fast, engage in reflection and prayer and formally repent for any sin that might have been committed during the previous Hebrew year. —

Jeanne Phillips, The Mercury News, 11 Oct. 2024 Rides can be tailored to suit all guests, from slow and steady to fast and exhilarating. —

Roger Sands, Forbes, 6 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fast

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fast

Adverb

His mimicry of Satchmo, the baseline test all these shows must pass, really is quite impressive.

Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 11 Nov. 2024
Just like many areas that saw a surge of visitors seeking outdoor adventure during COVID, Sedona’s popularity—which was already quite high—soared further.

Erin Strout, Outside Online, 11 Nov. 2024