rapid

adjective

ˈra-pəd How to pronounce rapid (audio)
Definition of rapidnext
as in quick
moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed the rapid descent of the roller coaster made me feel very queasy

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective rapid contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of rapid are expeditious, fast, fleet, hasty, quick, speedy, and swift. While all these words mean "moving, proceeding, or acting with celerity," rapid applies to the movement itself, rather than to the thing that moves.

rapid current

When would expeditious be a good substitute for rapid?

Although the words expeditious and rapid have much in common, expeditious suggests efficiency together with rapidity of accomplishment.

the expeditious handling of an order

How are the words fast and rapid related?

Both fast and rapid are very close in meaning, but fast applies particularly to the thing that moves.

fast horses

When is it sensible to use fleet instead of rapid?

The meanings of fleet and rapid largely overlap; however, fleet adds the implication of lightness and nimbleness.

fleet runners

In what contexts can hasty take the place of rapid?

While in some cases nearly identical to rapid, hasty suggests hurry and precipitousness and often connotes carelessness.

a hasty inspection

Where would quick be a reasonable alternative to rapid?

The synonyms quick and rapid are sometimes interchangeable, but quick suggests promptness and the taking of little time.

a quick wit

When can speedy be used instead of rapid?

In some situations, the words speedy and rapid are roughly equivalent. However, speedy implies quickness of successful accomplishment and may also suggest unusual velocity.

speedy delivery of mail

When might swift be a better fit than rapid?

The words swift and rapid are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, swift suggests great rapidity coupled with ease of movement.

returned the ball with one swift stroke

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rapid But the rapid spread of these medications is, essentially, a vast social experiment. —Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026 With Musk's ownership estimated at around 43% in the combined company, his stake would be valued at over $530 billion, marking a rapid shift in his fortunes. —Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 9 Feb. 2026 The recent additions to the program highlight its rapid growth in both rural and urban parts of the state since it got started in Flint two years ago. —Nushrat Rahman, Freep.com, 9 Feb. 2026 The rapid warming of the Arctic may be making such weakening of the polar vortex more common, but researchers aren’t yet sure. —Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 9 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rapid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rapid
  1. quick
  2. brisk
  3. fast
  4. swift
  5. galloping
  6. speedy
Adjective
  • Use citrus peels or baking soda with vinegar for a quick and natural way to clean and deodorize the garbage disposal effectively.
    — Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Trump’s response to this has been to float policies that promise a quick hit of relief.
    — Rogé Karma, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of quick
Adjective
  • Lemon entered his plea during a brisk court appearance on Friday, multiple outlets reported, after he was arrested last month in Los Angeles.
    — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Although a good portion of this album still sounds like Kurt Vile going through a Sly Stone phase, the kumbaya squishiness of the past few records has hardened into a brisk antagonism.
    — Eli Enis, Pitchfork, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of brisk
Adjective
  • What India is doing could also be mirrored in other emerging economies, which may be able to harness increasingly cheap wind and solar at an even faster rate to power their economic development, Bond said.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Performance gains in cars, drones, and robots In laboratory tests, the system processed motion data four times faster than current state-of-the-art algorithms.
    — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of fast
Adjective
  • Amid swift backlash from some of the president’s closest allies to the Obamas post, the White House sought to distance Trump from the evening post.
    — Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 7 Feb. 2026
  • Though work has been swift and has reportedly taken up 20% of the world's available steel, there were already signs of trouble.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 7 Feb. 2026
Definition of swift
Adjective
  • As his health faded in the last year of his life, Neruda rushed to finish his story, which gives the last chapters of his book a galloping, fragmented quality.
    — Tunku Varadarajan, WSJ, 25 June 2021
  • Designed by renowned architect Dominique Perrault, its four stories tilting forward are said to evoke a galloping horse.
    — Rob Hodgetts at Longchamp, CNN, 15 Oct. 2019
Definition of galloping
Adjective
  • For those hoping for a speedier end to what has been a brutally cold winter in many areas of the country, particularly Illinois, Gertie ended up delivering some disappointing news to the crowd.
    — Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026
  • The microwave-ready rice makes things extra speedy, too!
    — Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 2 Feb. 2026
Definition of speedy

Browse Nearby Words

rapes
rapid
rapid eye movement
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rapid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rapid. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on rapid

Nglish: Translation of rapid for Spanish Speakers

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