hasty

adjective

ˈhā-stē How to pronounce hasty (audio)
Definition of hastynext
1
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
2
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 In both cases, subsequent lawsuits accused the police of shoddy investigations and hasty decision-making in the service of creating good TV. —Jessica Lussenhop, ProPublica, 29 Mar. 2025 Resolving these tensions requires genuine leadership – not hasty amendments. —Philip Salter, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025 While some parents might rush to force their kids to make a hasty and superficial apology–or even non-apology–taking an engaged approach instead of a reactive one allowed this father and son to make a sincere attempt at amends that took into account the other person’s feelings. —Christian Dashiell, Parents, 24 Apr. 2025 The board expressed concern over the hasty implementation of these changes without public information or human rights due diligence. —Katie Paul and Echo Wang, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hasty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hasty
  1. hurried
  2. rapid
  3. quick
  4. impulsive
  5. brisk
  6. fast
  7. rash
  8. swift
Adjective
  • My Dien is a hurried cluster that has grown up ad hoc, with buildings of varying sizes rising like reeds from a fertile swamp.
    — Damien Cave, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
  • This comes as the Trump administration has faced growing criticisms for its hurried proceedings to remove as many noncitizens from the country as quickly as possible.
    — Alana Wise, NPR, 26 Apr. 2025
Definition of hurried
Adjective
  • But over the decades, jobs vanished, factories closed, and industry's hum was replaced by the lure of cheap labor overseas and rapid automation at home.
    — Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025
  • The consequences of warming will probably vary widely across the world, the report found: rapid thawing of Arctic sea ice, drier seasons in the Amazon, excess rain in places such as Alaska, northern Europe and the Sahel in north-central Africa.
    — Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
Definition of rapid
Adjective
  • The original rat killer Published April 25, 2007 With one quick flick of his wrist, Scott Mellanby felled a rodent and became part of South Florida sports lore.
    — Jeff Kleinman, Miami Herald, 3 June 2025
  • No matter how small your business, here is a quick blueprint for strengthening your defense against common cyber threats: Start with the basics.
    — Harry Kazakian, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
Definition of quick
Adjective
  • Although bad things do happen to him, they are often caused by his own careless and impulsive nature.
    — Joan MacDonald, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
  • Move slowly and be careful about impulsive ideas and actions.
    — Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 30 May 2025
Definition of impulsive
Adjective
  • Examples include moderate or brisk walking, water aerobics, doubles tennis, slow cycling, or ballroom dancing.
    — Heather Jones, Verywell Health, 30 May 2025
  • The sun peeked out, but brisk winds were blowing and temperatures only climbed to the high 40s near the lakefront.
    — Susan DeGrane, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2025
Definition of brisk
Adjective
  • The White House has also called for faster regulatory approval for reactors – including small modular reactors.
    — Pippa Stevens, CNBC, 3 June 2025
  • The fast food chain has 103 restaurants in North America and more than 1,700 worldwide with more stores, like the Elk Grove location, planned to open, according to the company website.
    — Marcus D. Smith, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2025
Definition of fast
Adjective
  • Ellie is rash and impulsive; Dina is lovestruck; Jesse is loyal and selfless.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 27 May 2025
  • For instance, entrepreneurs under chronic stress might make rash business investments without considering long-term profitability.
    — Shane Enete, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
Definition of rash
Adjective
  • The Checkers’ response, however, was swift and decisive.
    — Colin Cerniglia, Charlotte Observer, 4 June 2025
  • But the House adjourned without taking up the measure, amid swift opposition from business groups.
    — Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2025
Definition of swift

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Cite this Entry

“Hasty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hasty. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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