SWIFT Synonyms: 111 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'swift' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of swift are expeditious , fast , fleet , hasty , quick , rapid , and speedy . While all these words mean "moving, proceeding, or acting with celerity," swift suggests great rapidity coupled with ease of movement. // returned the ball with one swift stroke

Q: When can 'expeditious' be used instead of 'swift'?

The words expeditious and swift are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, expeditious suggests efficiency together with rapidity of accomplishment. // the expeditious handling of an order

Q: How are the words 'fast' and 'rapid' related as synonyms of 'swift'?

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

Q: When would 'fleet' be a good substitute for 'swift'?

The synonyms fleet and swift are sometimes interchangeable, but fleet adds the implication of lightness and nimbleness. // fleet runners

Q: When is 'hasty' a more appropriate choice than 'swift'?

The meanings of hasty and swift largely overlap; however, hasty suggests hurry and precipitousness and often connotes carelessness. // a hasty inspection

Q: In what contexts can 'quick' take the place of 'swift'?

Although the words quick and swift have much in common, quick suggests promptness and the taking of little time. // a quick wit

Q: Where would 'rapid' be a reasonable alternative to 'swift'?

In some situations, the words rapid and swift are roughly equivalent. However, rapid applies to the movement itself, rather than to the thing that moves. // rapid current

Q: When could 'speedy' be used to replace 'swift'?

While the synonyms speedy and swift are close in meaning, speedy implies quickness of successful accomplishment and may also suggest unusual velocity. // speedy delivery of mail

swift 1 of 2

adjective

ˈswift

Definition of swift

as in rapid

moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed the sleekest, swiftest boat ever to have sailed in the regatta

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

swift

2 of 2

adverb

as in quick

with great speed tried to cross the swift-flowing river

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective swift contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of swift are expeditious, fast, fleet, hasty, quick, rapid, and speedy. While all these words mean "moving, proceeding, or acting with celerity," swift suggests great rapidity coupled with ease of movement.

returned the ball with one swift stroke

When can expeditious be used instead of swift?

The words expeditious and swift are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 swift?

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

fast horses

When would fleet be a good substitute for swift?

The synonyms fleet and swift are sometimes interchangeable, but fleet adds the implication of lightness and nimbleness.

fleet runners

When is hasty a more appropriate choice than swift?

The meanings of hasty and swift largely overlap; however, hasty suggests hurry and precipitousness and often connotes carelessness.

a hasty inspection

In what contexts can quick take the place of swift?

Although the words quick and swift have much in common, quick suggests promptness and the taking of little time.

a quick wit

Where would rapid be a reasonable alternative to swift?

In some situations, the words rapid and swift are roughly equivalent. However, rapid applies to the movement itself, rather than to the thing that moves.

rapid current

When could speedy be used to replace swift?

While the synonyms speedy and swift are close in meaning, speedy implies quickness of successful accomplishment and may also suggest unusual velocity.

speedy delivery of mail

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 swift

Adjective

Mother Nature spent millions of years perfecting the maple seed’s gentle spiral to the forest floor and the fish’s swift flick through open water. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2026 Backlash was swift across social media and traditional channels. — Dan Simmons, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2026

Adverb

That trip was referenced in the whistle-blower complaint that sparked the House’s swift-moving impeachment inquiry. — Jennifer Jacobs, Time, 17 Oct. 2019 As of Monday, Golden Police Chief Bill Kilpatrick and Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Schrader are restricting water activities on Clear Creek because of swift-moving water and floating debris. — Kirk Mitchell, The Denver Post, 1 July 2019 See All Example Sentences for swift

Recent Examples of Synonyms for swift

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

Definition of rapid

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

Definition of brisk

Adverb

Ruerup quickly rose through the ranks at Oxxford, gaining experience with everything from product and design to marketing and technology.

— Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026
As the most lethal and airborne variant of the infection, pneumonic plague is nearly always fatal unless specific antibiotics are given quickly.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of quickly

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

Definition of fast

Adverb

In Congress, crypto companies are pushing for market-structure rules, AI firms are battling over how Washington will regulate their rapidly expanding industry, and sports-betting operators are confronting regulatory fights.

— Luke Fountain, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
The storm could rapidly intensify in those conditions, but forecasters said a blockade of storm-shredding wind shear near the coast could slow it slightly before landfall.

— Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of rapidly

Adverb

Authorities swiftly placed around 200 people under strict medical observation.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026
However, Jim is sticking with CEO Ernie Herrman, who promised on TJX's post-earnings call that fixes were swiftly put in place and already starting to bear fruit in the current quarter.

— Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of swiftly

Adverb

The rare show of alignment among fierce rivals was soon countered by comments from Meta’s Zuckerberg and Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, both of whom dismissed the slowdown idea.

— Alyson Shontell, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
Now, the full-scale deployment of the ClarosTechUV PFAS destruction system is soon to take place at Daikin’s manufacturing facility in Decatur.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of soon

Browse Nearby Words

swerving

swift

swiftly

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

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

Copy Citation

Synonyms of swift

adjective

adverb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on swift

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

inscrutable

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes