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
Sam Knight, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
The series is designed to emphasize incremental growth rather than instant capability, framing robotics as a system that evolves through interaction and experience.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 30 May 2026
Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026
Orange nails are always eye-catching, and this tangerine shade delivers an instant burst of energy that complements any summer look.
—Amanda Le, InStyle, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for instant
Adjective
Infantino presided over the events with jocular asides and instant recall of previous matches and scores.
—Sam Knight, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
The series is designed to emphasize incremental growth rather than instant capability, framing robotics as a system that evolves through interaction and experience.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 30 May 2026
Noun
The Red Sox were on top in an instant when Duran led off the game with his tenth home run of the year.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026
Orange nails are always eye-catching, and this tangerine shade delivers an instant burst of energy that complements any summer look.
—Amanda Le, InStyle, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for instant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for instant
Adjective
-
Stranger Things debuted to instantaneous success on the streaming platform in 2016, concluding its five-season run last New Year’s Eve.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
24 May 2026
-
Whether one lead or ten thousand arrive at once, the response is instantaneous.—
Arnold Sotelo,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
The book does often feel like a recording of a mental jam session, but there is also a sense of being guided by a kind of hesitating yet urgent voice that needs to get things figured out.—
Craig Morgan Teicher,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
-
Drums echo off concrete walls, whistles slice through the night air, and thousands of voices gather into something loud and urgent.—
Radier Odhiambo,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 May 2026
Adjective
-
Problems pile up The LCS was envisioned as a key component of US naval power in areas dominating current headlines, like the Persian Gulf, where the US and Israel are at war with Iran, and the South China Sea, where the US and its allies are defending freedom of navigation.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
-
Roy Keane has been taking pot shots at current skipper Bruno Fernandes.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Mall of the Emirates and Dubai Marina Mall are just a 10-minute cab ride away.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 June 2026
-
Sorry, this episode is an hour and forty-five minutes long?—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
The immediate illness known as Teflon flu is usually short-term, but PFAS exposure is part of a larger health debate.—
Ryan Brennan
June 2,
Sacbee.com,
3 June 2026
-
Pelley could not be reached for immediate comment.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
The impact was particularly acute in the off-price sector.—
Gabrielle Fonrouge,
CNBC,
1 June 2026
-
Cloud, who portrayed the endearing drug dealer Fezco O’Neill in the show’s first two seasons, died of acute intoxication — an accidental overdose — in 2023.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
Weiss and Bilton were present, along with CBS News president Tom Cibrowski and a human resources representative, according to a source.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
-
Lowbrow sources such as Sunday funnies, B movies, and advertisements are present but are more diffuse, rarely coalescing into obvious quotation.—
Jeremy Lybarger,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
For more than four minutes Darnold drove downfield, connecting on three of four passes, baffling the pass rushers, bleeding the clock, and by the time the Seahawks finally gave the ball back, the Rams had only 25 seconds to live.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
-
Left-hander Sam Moll got Matt Olson to ground out with the bases loaded for his first save, the second of his career.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Instant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/instant. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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