swift suggests great rapidity coupled with ease of movement.
returned the ball with one swift stroke
fleet adds the implication of lightness and nimbleness.
fleet runners
quick suggests promptness and the taking of little time.
a quick wit
speedy implies quickness of successful accomplishment
speedy delivery of mail
and may also suggest unusual velocity.
hasty suggests hurry and precipitousness and often connotes carelessness.
a hasty inspection
expeditious suggests efficiency together with rapidity of accomplishment.
the expeditious handling of an order
Examples of speedy in a Sentence
They wished her a speedy recovery.
a speedy worker but not a very careful one, unfortunately
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The Chiefs might’ve gotten their answer after the speedy Thornton saved them late.—The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025 Pacheco finished with 45 yards and the Chiefs looked to get speedy rookie Brashard Smith more involved, too.—Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2025 Make these speedy steaks for a cozy fall date night in.—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2025 The two-part Recco system equips participating SAR teams with electronic detectors that send out radar signals meant to bounce off the victim's reflector to help identify their location for speedier rescue.—New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for speedy
Word History
Etymology
Middle English spedi "beneficial, unencumbered, agile, prompt," from sped "luck, success, assistance, rate of progress" + -i-y entry 1 — more at speed entry 1
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