List of 426 Sets of Synonyms - How they Differ - Total of 2307 Words - 158

SYNONYMS: fast, rapid, swift, fleet, speedy, quick, hasty, expeditious.
These adjectives refer to something, such as activity or movement, marked by great speed.

Fast and rapid are often used interchangeably, though fast is more often applied to the person or thing in motion, and rapid, to the activity or movement involved: a fast car; a fast plane; a rapid mountain stream; rapid development; a fast runner; rapid strides.
Swift suggests smoothness and sureness of movement (a swift current; swift but unclear handwriting).
Fleet, implies lightness of movement (The cheetah is the fleetest of animals).
Speedy refers to velocity (a speedy worker) or to promptness or hurry (hoped for a speedy resolution).
Quick most often applies to what takes little time or to promptness of response or action: Let's eat a quick snack. Only her quick reaction prevented an accident.
Hasty implies hurried action (a hasty visit) and often a lack of care or thought (regretted the hasty decision).
Expeditious suggests rapid efficiency: sent the package by the most expeditious means.