1
as in instantaneous
done or occurring without any noticeable lapse in time
an instant response to the cry for help
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in urgent
needing immediate attention
an instant need for food supplies in the famine-stricken country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in current
existing or in progress right now
we should be more concerned with instant dangers than with those in the far-off future
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in minute
a very small space of time
it all happened in an instant
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of instant
Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
Nobody in the free food world is predicting instant doom.
—Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 29 Mar. 2026
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 20 Mar. 2026
But the series based on Eiichiro Oda’s long-running manga — which has also been adapted as a similarly long-running anime from Toei Animation — was a resounding success among fans, becoming a near-instant hit for the streamer.
—Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for instant
Adjective
Shortstop Colson Montgomery provided an instant pick-me-up on Sunday at American Family Field in Milwaukee, blasting a grand slam in the first inning.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
Nobody in the free food world is predicting instant doom.
—Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 29 Mar. 2026
Noun
Technology keeps pushing toward a world where capturing a moment and generating one can happen in the same instant.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 20 Mar. 2026
But the series based on Eiichiro Oda’s long-running manga — which has also been adapted as a similarly long-running anime from Toei Animation — was a resounding success among fans, becoming a near-instant hit for the streamer.
—Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for instant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instant
Adjective
-
Seimetz’s icy chemistry with Infiniti is instantaneous and surprisingly light on its feet, reflective of the show as a whole despite the heavy themes.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Access to the classical studies is now instantaneous; literature, science, art, philosophy, mathematics, and history, humanity’s entire corpus of information, is available in the comfort of your home.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Pundits say the public is too divided, the issues too technical, and the competition with China too urgent for democracy.—
Justin Rosenstein,
Fortune,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Decisions move farther from classrooms, reforms take longer to implement and urgent problems become administrative processes.—
Daniel L Gordon,
Daily News,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Arrizurieta said the area’s current problems stem from rising rents and the type of tenants that can afford to take up shop in the area — mainly, banks and other national powerhouses.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
-
But the phrase can and should be applied to the current Iran war, at least insofar as the United States is concerned.—
Eliot A. Cohen,
The Atlantic,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Seven stacks of tiny paper cups were arranged to the left, next to packets of Nescafé, pouches of two-minute noodles, and a double gas burner connected to the cylinder—the main tool of his trade.—
Nathan Heller,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The dinky port town of Antiparos, with a strip of cute shops, cafes, and unpretentious restaurants, is a ten-minute drive.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Smoke from the Jumping Branch fire has spread for miles, prompting warnings for drivers to avoid parts of NC 80, as well as a Temporary Flight Restriction in the immediate area, McDowell County 911 reports.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Matches without goals triggered texts to Garden requesting immediate Wyscout Zoom sessions.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Take, for example, radiation, which with moderate exposures can increase an astronaut’s long-term risk of cancer and with heavy doses can cause acute sickness.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
31 Mar. 2026
-
His masterful short stories revolve around distinctive characters with profound empathy and acute detail.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Taurus April 20 – May 20 Simplicity is key to success at present, especially regarding your daily routines.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Edwards just plans to stay present.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Johnson returned to the fund for a clean second, before things went sideways again in the third, starting with a Nico Hoerner homer.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Johnson responded in the second by matching Miles’ production with back-to-back 3s to put the Gamecocks ahead 33-26.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Instant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instant. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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