swift suggests great rapidity coupled with ease of movement.
returned the ball with one swift stroke
fleet adds the implication of lightness and nimbleness.
fleet runners
quick suggests promptness and the taking of little time.
a quick wit
speedy implies quickness of successful accomplishment
speedy delivery of mail
and may also suggest unusual velocity.
hasty suggests hurry and precipitousness and often connotes carelessness.
a hasty inspection
expeditious suggests efficiency together with rapidity of accomplishment.
the expeditious handling of an order
Examples of speedy in a Sentence
They wished her a speedy recovery.
a speedy worker but not a very careful one, unfortunately
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In the killings of the deputies, Fielder waived his right to a speedy trial and numerous continuances have delayed the trial until this year.—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2025 Follows a speedy 12-year-old sloth named Laura whose odd sloth family is left homeless by a devastating storm.—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 28 Feb. 2025 Thompson appeared in court Wednesday with lawyer Michael Campbell who filed to request a bail hearing and speedy trial.—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2025 The speedy infield prospect swiped second and advanced to third when catcher Victor Caratini overthrew the base.—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for speedy
Word History
Etymology
Middle English spedi "beneficial, unencumbered, agile, prompt," from sped "luck, success, assistance, rate of progress" + -i-y entry 1 — more at speed entry 1
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