Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective expeditious contrast with its synonyms?

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

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

fast horses

When is fleet a more appropriate choice than expeditious?

In some situations, the words fleet and expeditious are roughly equivalent. However, fleet adds the implication of lightness and nimbleness.

fleet runners

In what contexts can hasty take the place of expeditious?

While the synonyms hasty and expeditious are close in meaning, hasty suggests hurry and precipitousness and often connotes carelessness.

a hasty inspection

When is it sensible to use quick instead of expeditious?

The synonyms quick and expeditious are sometimes interchangeable, but quick suggests promptness and the taking of little time.

a quick wit

When can rapid be used instead of expeditious?

The words rapid and expeditious can be used in similar contexts, but rapid applies to the movement itself, rather than to the thing that moves.

rapid current

Where would speedy be a reasonable alternative to expeditious?

While in some cases nearly identical to expeditious, speedy implies quickness of successful accomplishment and may also suggest unusual velocity.

speedy delivery of mail

When might swift be a better fit than expeditious?

Although the words swift and expeditious have much in common, swift suggests great rapidity coupled with ease of movement.

returned the ball with one swift stroke

Examples 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 expeditious But that would have been awkward and not the most expeditious way of accomplishing the task. Dan Rodricks, Baltimore Sun, 23 Feb. 2024 Separately, Creech has two state appeals that were argued on an expeditious timeline before the Idaho Supreme Court on Monday. Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 7 Feb. 2024 Responding to this critique, some government proposals encourage expeditious AI development. Alondra Nelson, Foreign Affairs, 12 Jan. 2024 Flying into Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO), hopping on a quick domestic flight to Tambor Airport (TMU), and then taking a 45-minute taxi is arguably the most expeditious arrival strategy. Lindsay Cohn, Travel + Leisure, 3 Nov. 2023 See all Example Sentences for expeditious 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expeditious
Adjective
  • Short books to read to meet your reading goal Need a short book to cap off your 2024 reading or a quick, immersive read to get you out of a reading slump?
    Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
  • Amidst it all, Paris Hilton, the ultimate Duracell bunny, took a quick break to join Pretty Little Liars star Ashley Benson and her actor husband Brandon Jack James for a tête-à-tête on a sofa.
    Freya Drohan, Vogue, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • The river was swift and unrelenting, its currents carrying victim after victim downstream.
    Robert Pearl, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
  • Wider international condemnation of the government's response has been swift.
    Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Cons: Longer timeline, risk of fragmented, inconsistent systems, limited immediate impact.
    Siddharth Gawshinde, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
  • The was no immediate response from the Chinese foreign ministry outside of business hours on Thursday.
    Reuters, CNN, 19 Dec. 2024

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Thesaurus Entries Near expeditious

Cite this Entry

“Expeditious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expeditious. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on expeditious

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