Synonyms of fast

fast 1 of 4

adverb

1

as in quickly

with great speed

run as fast as you can to get help

Synonyms & Similar Words

• quickly
• rapidly
• quick
• swiftly
• hot
• soon
• swift
• immediately
• promptly
• hastily
• speedily
• briskly
• in a hurry
• in short order
• by leaps and bounds
• at full tilt
• double-quick
• like a shot
• like wildfire
• at full throttle
• apace
• fleetly
• presto
• like gangbusters
• a mile a minute
• lickety-split
• abruptly
• hell-for-leather
• chop-chop
• pronto
• snappily
• readily
• recklessly
• vigorously
• posthaste
• full tilt
• impulsively
• rashly
• suddenly
• impetuously
• energetically

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• slowly
• slow
• sluggishly
• deliberately
• leisurely
• lingeringly
• ploddingly
• belatedly
• laggardly
• tardily
• delinquently

2

as in quite

to a full extent or degree

everyone in camp was fast asleep within minutes of hitting the sack

Synonyms & Similar Words

• quite
• perfectly
• completely
• fully
• totally
• all
• utterly
• well
• wide
• even
• thoroughly
• wholly
• exactly
• entirely
• entire
• out
• enough
• absolutely
• clean
• flat
• dead
• for fair
• full
• all the way
• down to the ground
• in whole
• at length
• down the line
• to pieces
• basically
• soundly
• all over
• heartily
• altogether
• to bits
• cold
• through and through
• to the hilt
• mostly
• plain
• to the max
• generally
• substantially
• plumb
• all of
• downright
• largely
• unqualifiedly
• mainly
• greatly
• primarily
• predominantly
• categorically
• principally
• chiefly
• more or less
• by and large
• predominately
• overall
• stone-cold
• abundantly
• generously
• hands down
• copiously
• stone

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• halfway
• partly
• partially
• just
• half
• slightly
• hardly
• barely
• scarcely
• minimally
• marginally
• somewhat
• superficially
• incompletely
• part
• roughly
• approximately
• kind of

fast

2 of 4

adjective

ˈfast 

1

as in rapid

moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed

the fast pace of construction resulted in our new house being done ahead of schedule

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rapid
• quick
• brisk
• galloping
• swift
• speedy
• lightning
• whirlwind
• hot
• hasty
• rattling
• rapid-fire
• hurried
• flying
• breathless
• splitting
• zippy
• blistering
• breakneck
• fleet
• accelerated
• snappy
• dizzy
• nippy
• expeditious
• rushed
• fleet-footed
• at speed
• strong
• ready
• prompt
• vigorous
• high-speed
• breathtaking
• quickened
• rush
• energetic
• strenuous
• ultrafast
• hastened
• ultrarapid

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• slow
• sluggish
• crawling
• unhurried
• dragging
• languid
• deliberate
• leisurely
• poky
• plodding
• laggard
• lingering
• late
• dallying
• slowish
• measured
• dilatory
• tardy
• dillydallying
• dawdling
• poking
• ultraslow

2

as in loyal

firm in one's allegiance to someone or something

the two girls soon became fast and inseparable friends

Synonyms & Similar Words

• loyal
• steadfast
• staunch
• faithful
• good
• true
• devout
• dedicated
• steady
• devoted
• constant
• pious
• reliable
• down-the-line
• dependable
• ardent
• fervent
• solid
• trustworthy
• passionate
• responsible
• true-blue
• dutiful
• enthusiastic
• trusty
• resolute
• unhesitating
• tried
• serious
• unfaltering
• determined
• intent
• tried-and-true
• unwavering
• confirmed
• fervid
• impassioned
• avid
• sworn
• inveterate
• gung ho
• dyed-in-the-wool

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• false
• unreliable
• treacherous
• untrue
• fickle
• disloyal
• unfaithful
• inconstant
• faithless
• irresponsible
• perfidious
• traitorous
• untrustworthy
• undependable
• hesitant
• uncertain
• shaky
• faltering
• dubious
• recreant
• irresolute
• dispassionate
• uninterested
• apathetic
• wavering
• vacillating

3

as in tight

firmly positioned in place and difficult to dislodge

the rusty, old screws are so fast in the fitting that there's no hope of getting them out

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tight
• stuck
• jammed
• frozen
• glued
• firm
• embedded
• set
• lodged
• snug
• wedged
• clamped
• secured
• attached
• bound
• anchored
• bonded
• cemented
• entrenched
• fastened
• impacted
• immovable
• unyielding
• implanted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• loose
• insecure
• unsecured
• detached
• unbound
• movable
• unattached
• undone
• freed
• yielding
• loosened
• unfastened
• dislodged

4

as in deceptive

given to or marked by cheating and deception

rolling back odometers was just one of the fast practices that the used-car dealer was guilty of

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deceptive
• fraudulent
• shady
• crooked
• dishonest
• sharp
• shifty
• false
• rogue
• bent
• underhand
• underhanded
• duplicitous
• artful
• guileful
• treacherous
• unscrupulous
• subtle
• slick
• cunning
• unethical
• unprincipled
• double-dealing
• deceiving
• deceitful
• unconscionable
• slippery
• tricky
• wily
• crafty
• sly
• beguiling
• delusive
• sneaky
• cagey
• foxy
• insidious
• furtive
• devious
• perfidious
• trickish
• delusory
• deluding
• sneaking
• defrauding

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• straight
• honest
• ethical
• decent
• honorable
• conscientious
• just
• upright
• scrupulous
• straightforward
• aboveboard
• forthright

5

as in sturdy

marked by the ability to withstand stress without structural damage or distortion

as the storm approached, we checked to see that every thing on the outside of the house was fast and locked in position

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sturdy
• strong
• stable
• durable
• reliable
• sound
• dependable
• stalwart
• bombproof
• firm
• solid
• tough
• unbreakable
• beefy
• cohesive
• infrangible
• irrefragable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unstable
• weak
• unsteady
• rickety
• unsound
• insecure
• infirm
• shaky
• unbalanced
• wobbly
• unsubstantial
• tottering
• tottery

6

as in short

not lasting for a considerable time

after a fast explanation of the procedure, we were turned loose to do the work

Synonyms & Similar Words

• short
• brief
• little
• sudden
• concise
• compact
• transient
• shortened
• condensed
• abrupt
• curtailed
• abbreviated
• syncopated
• ephemeral
• succinct
• fleeting
• transitory
• abridged
• short-lived
• shortish
• momentary
• pithy
• crisp
• laconic
• terse
• short-term
• short-range
• summary
• cut-back
• epigrammatic
• impermanent
• compendious

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• long
• great
• far
• lengthy
• extended
• persistent
• endless
• everlasting
• prolonged
• unending
• interminable
• permanent
• protracted
• long-drawn-out
• long-lived
• longish
• enlarged
• overlong
• long-term
• long-range
• expanded
• supplemented

7

as in quick

having or showing quickness of mind

I don't know how to operate this machine, but I'm a fast learner

Synonyms & Similar Words

• quick
• intelligent
• clever
• smart
• brilliant
• sharp
• exceptional
• bright
• keen
• nimble
• wise
• skilled
• educated
• alert
• quick-witted
• brainy
• ultrasmart
• supersmart
• cunning
• sharp-witted
• sensible
• resourceful
• acute
• literate
• learned
• creative
• apt
• ingenious
• reasonable
• hyperintelligent
• insightful
• savvy
• perceptive
• schooled
• astute
• prudent
• logical
• knowledgeable
• cerebral
• knowing
• trained
• heady
• sound
• scholarly
• informed
• sagacious
• judicious
• rational
• discerning
• sane
• inventive
• erudite
• perspicacious
• genial
• shrewd
• wily
• crafty
• highbrow
• sage
• sapient
• percipient
• well-read
• foxy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• slow
• simple
• dense
• thick
• stupid
• dumb
• soft
• dull
• opaque
• dim
• mindless
• unintelligent
• senseless
• obtuse
• vacuous
• fatuous
• dopey
• brainless
• brain-dead
• witless
• doltish
• thickheaded
• weak-minded
• boneheaded
• dorky
• foolish
• silly
• pinheaded
• softheaded
• dunderheaded
• feebleminded
• simpleminded
• idiotic
• unbrilliant
• moronic
• slow-witted
• lamebrain
• imbecile
• unsmart
• ignorant
• dim-witted
• gormless
• empty-headed
• uneducated
• unthinking
• illiterate
• airheaded
• knuckleheaded
• uninformed
• insane
• thick-witted
• crazy
• lunkheaded
• mad
• bubbleheaded
• chuckleheaded
• absurd
• birdbrained
• unwise
• half-witted
• untaught
• unintellectual
• lowbrow
• nonintellectual
• unacademic
• nutty
• preposterous
• wacky
• nonsensical
• zany
• cuckoo
• fool
• balmy
• sappy
• loony
• asinine
• daft
• kooky
• dippy
• daffy
• boobish
• dotty
• half-baked
• harebrained
• screwball
• cockeyed
• crackpot
• featherheaded
• tomfool

fast

3 of 4

noun

as in famine

Related Words

• famine
• craving
• hunger strike
• sweet tooth
• starvation
• greed
• gluttony
• hoggishness
• malnutrition
• gourmandism
• undernourishment
• voracity
• rapacity
• stomach
• hunger
• voraciousness
• ravenousness
• famishment
• belly
• appetite
• rapaciousness
• emptiness
• munchies

Dissimilar Words

• satisfaction
• fill
• fullness
• satiety
• glut
• satiation
• inappetence
• surfeit
• repletion
• repleteness

fast

4 of 4

verb

as in to diet

Related Words

• diet

Dissimilar Words

• stuff
• sate
• cram
• gorge
• glut
• gobble
• surfeit
• pig out
• gulp
• guzzle
• gormandize

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective fast contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of fast are expeditious, fleet, hasty, quick, rapid, speedy, and swift. While all these words mean "moving, proceeding, or acting with celerity," fast and rapid are very close in meaning, but fast applies particularly to the thing that moves.

fast horses

When can expeditious be used instead of fast?

The words expeditious and fast are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, expeditious suggests efficiency together with rapidity of accomplishment.

the expeditious handling of an order

When is it sensible to use fleet instead of fast?

While the synonyms fleet and fast are close in meaning, fleet adds the implication of lightness and nimbleness.

fleet runners

In what contexts can hasty take the place of fast?

Although the words hasty and fast have much in common, hasty suggests hurry and precipitousness and often connotes carelessness.

a hasty inspection

When would quick be a good substitute for fast?

In some situations, the words quick and fast are roughly equivalent. However, quick suggests promptness and the taking of little time.

a quick wit

When might rapid be a better fit than fast?

The meanings of rapid and fast largely overlap; however, rapid applies to the movement itself, rather than to the thing that moves.

rapid current

When is speedy a more appropriate choice than fast?

The words speedy and fast can be used in similar contexts, but speedy implies quickness of successful accomplishment and may also suggest unusual velocity.

speedy delivery of mail

When could swift be used to replace fast?

While in some cases nearly identical to fast, swift suggests great rapidity coupled with ease of movement.

returned the ball with one swift stroke

How does the adjective fast contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of fast are expeditious, fleet, hasty, quick, rapid, speedy, and swift. While all these words mean "moving, proceeding, or acting with celerity," fast and rapid are very close in meaning, but fast applies particularly to the thing that moves.

fast horses

When can expeditious be used instead of fast?

The words expeditious and fast are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, expeditious suggests efficiency together with rapidity of accomplishment.

the expeditious handling of an order

When is it sensible to use fleet instead of fast?

While the synonyms fleet and fast are close in meaning, fleet adds the implication of lightness and nimbleness.

fleet runners

In what contexts can hasty take the place of fast?

Although the words hasty and fast have much in common, hasty suggests hurry and precipitousness and often connotes carelessness.

a hasty inspection

When would quick be a good substitute for fast?

In some situations, the words quick and fast are roughly equivalent. However, quick suggests promptness and the taking of little time.

a quick wit

When might rapid be a better fit than fast?

The meanings of rapid and fast largely overlap; however, rapid applies to the movement itself, rather than to the thing that moves.

rapid current

When is speedy a more appropriate choice than fast?

The words speedy and fast can be used in similar contexts, but speedy implies quickness of successful accomplishment and may also suggest unusual velocity.

speedy delivery of mail

When could swift be used to replace fast?

While in some cases nearly identical to fast, swift suggests great rapidity coupled with ease of movement.

returned the ball with one swift stroke

How does the adjective fast contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of fast are expeditious, fleet, hasty, quick, rapid, speedy, and swift. While all these words mean "moving, proceeding, or acting with celerity," fast and rapid are very close in meaning, but fast applies particularly to the thing that moves.

fast horses

When can expeditious be used instead of fast?

The words expeditious and fast are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, expeditious suggests efficiency together with rapidity of accomplishment.

the expeditious handling of an order

When is it sensible to use fleet instead of fast?

While the synonyms fleet and fast are close in meaning, fleet adds the implication of lightness and nimbleness.

fleet runners

In what contexts can hasty take the place of fast?

Although the words hasty and fast have much in common, hasty suggests hurry and precipitousness and often connotes carelessness.

a hasty inspection

When would quick be a good substitute for fast?

In some situations, the words quick and fast are roughly equivalent. However, quick suggests promptness and the taking of little time.

a quick wit

When might rapid be a better fit than fast?

The meanings of rapid and fast largely overlap; however, rapid applies to the movement itself, rather than to the thing that moves.

rapid current

When is speedy a more appropriate choice than fast?

The words speedy and fast can be used in similar contexts, but speedy implies quickness of successful accomplishment and may also suggest unusual velocity.

speedy delivery of mail

When could swift be used to replace fast?

While in some cases nearly identical to fast, swift suggests great rapidity coupled with ease of movement.

returned the ball with one swift stroke

How does the adjective fast contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of fast are expeditious, fleet, hasty, quick, rapid, speedy, and swift. While all these words mean "moving, proceeding, or acting with celerity," fast and rapid are very close in meaning, but fast applies particularly to the thing that moves.

fast horses

When can expeditious be used instead of fast?

The words expeditious and fast are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, expeditious suggests efficiency together with rapidity of accomplishment.

the expeditious handling of an order

When is it sensible to use fleet instead of fast?

While the synonyms fleet and fast are close in meaning, fleet adds the implication of lightness and nimbleness.

fleet runners

In what contexts can hasty take the place of fast?

Although the words hasty and fast have much in common, hasty suggests hurry and precipitousness and often connotes carelessness.

a hasty inspection

When would quick be a good substitute for fast?

In some situations, the words quick and fast are roughly equivalent. However, quick suggests promptness and the taking of little time.

a quick wit

When might rapid be a better fit than fast?

The meanings of rapid and fast largely overlap; however, rapid applies to the movement itself, rather than to the thing that moves.

rapid current

When is speedy a more appropriate choice than fast?

The words speedy and fast can be used in similar contexts, but speedy implies quickness of successful accomplishment and may also suggest unusual velocity.

speedy delivery of mail

When could swift be used to replace fast?

While in some cases nearly identical to fast, swift suggests great rapidity coupled with ease of movement.

returned the ball with one swift stroke

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of fast

Adverb

Iran offers a concrete example of how fast the character of a campaign can change once air defenses begin to fail. —Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026

Several taxis stopped on elevated ring roads, where fast-moving traffic passes continuously on both sides. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 1 Apr. 2026

Adjective

Meanwhile, on grander scales, older stars across the Universe run out of fuel and die, new episodes of star-formation are triggered, and the Universe continues to expand, driving individual galaxies, groups of galaxies, and clusters of galaxies mutually apart, faster and faster, as time goes on. —Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026

That could be crucial if Geno Auriemma goes to a smaller, faster lineup at the Final Four. —Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2026

Noun

What may be considered fast for a beginner runner–for example, a 10-minute per mile pace–would likely qualify as super slow for an Olympian, whose fast may be, say, a 5-minute per mile pace. —Jenny McCoy, SELF, 20 Mar. 2026

On Friday, the staff had finished their iftar meal, ending their daily fast for Ramadan, and were bedding down for the night. —Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026

Verb

Ramadan is the month that Muslims fast from food and drink from sun up to sun down in an effort to form a deeper connection with God, without the distractions of worldly temptations. —Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026

The shift in how audiences consume entertainment has been slow enough to debate but fast enough to catch legacy media off guard. —Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2026