speedy

adjective

ˈspē-dē How to pronounce speedy (audio)
Definition of speedynext
1
as in rapid
moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed a speedy worker but not a very careful one, unfortunately

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in immediate
done, carried out, or given without delay I was surprised by and pleased with the company's speedy response to my complaints

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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speedy recovery
quick recovery
expeditious recovery
swift recovery
timely recovery
complete recovery
a speedy return
an expedient return
a rapid return
a hasty return
a prompt return
a swift return
a speedy delivery
a fast delivery
a snappy delivery
a fast-track delivery
a rapid delivery
a timely delivery
a speedy implementation
a hurried implementation
a streamlined implementation
a vigorous implementation
a smooth implementation
an efficient implementation
a speedy conclusion
an accelerated conclusion
a hurried conclusion
a swift conclusion
an immediate conclusion
a sudden conclusion

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective speedy contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of speedy are expeditious, fast, fleet, hasty, quick, rapid, and swift. While all these words mean "moving, proceeding, or acting with celerity," speedy implies quickness of successful accomplishment and may also suggest unusual velocity.

speedy delivery of mail

When can expeditious be used instead of speedy?

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

the expeditious handling of an order

How do fast and rapid relate to one another, in the sense of speedy?

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 speedy?

Although the words fleet and speedy have much in common, fleet adds the implication of lightness and nimbleness.

fleet runners

When is it sensible to use hasty instead of speedy?

In some situations, the words hasty and speedy are roughly equivalent. However, hasty suggests hurry and precipitousness and often connotes carelessness.

a hasty inspection

When is quick a more appropriate choice than speedy?

While in some cases nearly identical to speedy, quick suggests promptness and the taking of little time.

a quick wit

Where would rapid be a reasonable alternative to speedy?

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

rapid current

When might swift be a better fit than speedy?

While the synonyms swift and speedy 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 speedy The speedy Jose Siri scored from third base after Lindor lifted a first-pitch slider from All-Star reliever Jeff Hoffman to center field in the bottom of the ninth. —Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 6 Apr. 2025 Traveling at approximately 40 miles per second, these speedy meteors leave glowing streams of light that can last several seconds up to minutes. —Valerie Mesa, People.com, 5 Apr. 2025 Such a move would mean that those who wanted to support Luna by voting against the rule would also be blocking speedy consideration of those priorities. —Emily Brooks, The Hill, 1 Apr. 2025 Breezing with dispatch around the speedy Neoequos and Madaket Road, who had been a pacesetters up the backstretch, Tappan Street took his almost electrically precise stride well outside the fading duelists to lay down his burst of power. —Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for speedy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for speedy
  1. rapid
  2. immediate
  3. quick
  4. swift
  5. fast
  6. timely
  7. brisk
  8. galloping
Adjective
  • The rapid rise of ransomware attacks, supply chain vulnerabilities and data breaches has created an environment of persistent uncertainty, leaving organizations grappling with how to stay resilient in the face of evolving threats.
    — Francis Dinha, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Since taking office, the Trump administration has implemented rapid, significant changes to United States immigration policy.
    — Albert Sun, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of rapid
Adjective
  • The reaction was immediate and polarized — cheers erupted from some fans who are accustomed to Barkley’s blunt, unfiltered style, while others booed in audible disgust.
    — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • The Coach Prime effect was immediate: the Buffaloes sold out every home game last season.
    — Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of immediate
Adjective
  • Polite start, quick stall Even after Trump was elected on the promise of high tariffs, relations with Beijing got off to a polite start.
    — Beijing and Washington Bureaus, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Telegraphed data arrived in the morning, and FitzRoy made quick extrapolations from his knowledge of storm theories, sending forecasts an hour later.
    — Danny Robb, JSTOR Daily, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of quick
Adjective
  • However, before things turned deadly, his wife jumped to his aid, saving his life with her swift actions, according to reports.
    — Sam Gillette, People.com, 16 Apr. 2025
  • The fallout at the Ivy League school has been swift – and the consequences will be enormous, scientists have warned.
    — Taylor Romine, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2025
Definition of swift
Adjective
  • John Taylor, mayor of New Fairview, told the committee that Wise County is one of the fastest growing counties in Texas with a 20% population increase since 2020.
    — Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Apr. 2025
  • With their previous home sold and their third child on the way, Dallas designer Lisa Henderson and her husband, Luke, needed to find a new house—and fast.
    — Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 14 Apr. 2025
Definition of fast
Adjective
  • The timely interview came at a volatile moment on Wall Street, as investors worried about that President Donald Trump’s tariffs could lead to a recession and squeeze corporate IT budgets as a result, leading to softer demand for software.
    — Paulina Likos, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Those wins have featured a combination of factors that have resulted in Ottawa’s success this year: structured defending, solid goaltending and timely offense.
    — Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of timely
Adjective
  • Warhol is a brisk dip in self-deprecating self-examination.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Monday’s weather for the A’s first home game was unseasonably cool with rain earlier in the day and game-time temperature a brisk 52 degrees with some light wind.
    — Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of brisk
Adjective
  • As his health faded in the last year of his life, Neruda rushed to finish his story, which gives the last chapters of his book a galloping, fragmented quality.
    — Tunku Varadarajan, WSJ, 25 June 2021
  • The artist was in Times Square last week to offer his latest corrective, unveiling a massive bronze statue of a young African American man in urban streetwear sitting astride a galloping horse.
    — NBC News, NBC News, 7 Oct. 2019
Definition of galloping

Browse Nearby Words

speed (up)
speedy
spell
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Cite this Entry

“Speedy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/speedy. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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