fleet 1 of 2

Definition of fleetnext
as in convoy
a group of vehicles traveling together or under one management a fleet of buses rolling down the highway

Synonyms & Similar Words

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fleet

2 of 2

adjective

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective fleet contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of fleet are expeditious, fast, hasty, quick, rapid, speedy, and swift. While all these words mean "moving, proceeding, or acting with celerity," fleet adds the implication of lightness and nimbleness.

fleet runners

When could expeditious be used to replace fleet?

In some situations, the words expeditious and fleet are roughly equivalent. However, 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 fleet?

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

fast horses

When is it sensible to use hasty instead of fleet?

While in some cases nearly identical to fleet, hasty suggests hurry and precipitousness and often connotes carelessness.

a hasty inspection

When would quick be a good substitute for fleet?

The meanings of quick and fleet largely overlap; however, quick suggests promptness and the taking of little time.

a quick wit

When can rapid be used instead of fleet?

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

rapid current

In what contexts can speedy take the place of fleet?

Although the words speedy and fleet have much in common, speedy implies quickness of successful accomplishment and may also suggest unusual velocity.

speedy delivery of mail

Where would swift be a reasonable alternative to fleet?

The words swift and fleet can be used in similar contexts, but 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 fleet
Noun
To be clear, none of these can be detected with our extant fleet of telescopes. — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 2 Oct. 2026 Synspective is a Japanese company with a growing fleet of radar Earth-imaging satellites. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 2 Oct. 2026
Adjective
The fleet buildup is designed to prevent such single points of failure, and the new bill contains language that would require NOAA to have backup aircraft on hand for each mission. — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 17 June 2026 Airlines generally plan for fleet growth years in advance, and the bulk of an aircraft's price is paid when a carrier receives it. — Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 9 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for fleet
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fleet
Noun
  • The State Department condemned the aid convoy strike without naming who was responsible.
    — Adrian Elimian, semafor.com, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Then, just ahead of first light on September 22, 2025, an RCMP convoy was spotted on the highway that isn’t on the way to anywhere else.
    — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Noonan's column also manifests the larger substantive concern, already being expressed by some of those involved in the rapid development of AI, that the new technology could escape human control and even threaten the existence of humankind.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Josemar Lauriano Pereira, a 46-year-old lawyer, said that the rapid availability of results helped combat fraud and uncertainty.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Not an inciting event for troll armadas to threaten the people involved.
    — Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 2 July 2026
  • Corlys has his own armada sailing for Rhaenyra.
    — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 20 June 2026
Adjective
  • But adding just five more minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, such as brisk walking, every day could prevent up to 10% of premature deaths, according to a large observational study.
    — Ann Pietrangelo, Verywell Health, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Fall’s brisk weather brings with it the promise of cozy knitwear, cashmere socks, and roaring fires—perhaps the only downside is that the grey skies exacerbate the our considerable vitamin D deficiency.
    — Violet Hayward, Vogue, 28 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • From caravan travel and 4WD adventures to camping and off-grid exploration—S2000 delivers extended runtime wherever Australians choose to explore.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Continue reading … ‘SEALED SHUT’ — DHS issues ominous warning to new migrant caravan heading toward US-Mexico border.
    — , FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • The service As elsewhere in Bahia, service is warm and friendly—albeit not quite as fast and efficient as city-dwellers may expect.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The models have become much more capable; the pace of improvement from model to model is faster; and the stakes are much higher.
    — Alyson Shontell, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • There’s a flotilla of yachts, but millions of have-nots, and enough homeless people to fill stadiums.
    — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • According to Euronews, the ships belonged to the German Kriegsmarine’s Danube and Black Sea flotillas, which were intentionally sunk as German forces retreated before the advancing Soviet Red Army during the final months of World War II.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Set the scene My Uber ride from Santa Fe’s Regional Airport was a quick 15 minutes.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The activewear market has been especially quick to adopt these changes.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Fleet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fleet. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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