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
  • Defending the Intercontinental Championship on such a grand stage is a testament to his rapid ascent within the company.
    — Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
  • 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
Definition of rapid
Adjective
  • But Gmail users also face a more immediate decision, given a critical problem with its most recent updates.
    — Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • These actions often yield more immediate results than waiting for a chance to elect a new president. 2.
    — Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of immediate
Adjective
  • In warmer climates, for example, the liquid expands and contracts more rapidly, which can lead to a quicker extraction of flavors from the barrel.
    — Emily Price, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • The director is also quick to point out how this mindset is not exclusive to the U.S. but is also widely spreading in Europe and across the world.
    — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of quick
Adjective
  • Crisis Planning As new challenges come afoot, is the company’s crisis communication plan updated to deliver a swift response?
    — Andrea Aker, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Be swift with SwiftScan VIP's lifetime subscription access to the app and scanning tools, now just $41.99 (reg.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of swift
Adjective
  • But the plan can allow for faster loan forgiveness for certain borrowers who initially took out relatively small student loan amounts.
    — Adam S. Minsky, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • However, Fisher feels confident that Grand Slam Track will allow the fastest runners to race against each other more regularly, as well as being a way to crown the world’s best athletes in a season-long competition outside of the Olympics and World Athletics Championships.
    — George Ramsay, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of fast
Adjective
  • Based on a February 2025 survey of 236 companies across various sizes, industries, and geographies, the 2025 Distributed Work Report provides a timely look at the state of remote and hybrid work models.
    — Cara Brennan Allamano, Forbes.com, 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 16 Apr. 2025.

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