as in speed
a high rate of movement or performance
with amazing swiftness, the airline agent got our ticket changed, and we boarded the plane just as it was about to leave
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Recent Examples of swiftness
Lee, working with a script by Alan Fox, spins out the multiple threads of action with startling swiftness and characteristically rapid-fire, confrontational dialogue.
—
Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 21 Jan. 2026
Despite the fact that his name had been the most often mentioned as a potential Alonso replacement since December, the swiftness of his rise comes as a surprise.
—Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Another distinctive characteristic of the Mormon Wives rollout is the swiftness in which new seasons drop.
—Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025
In the eyes of many observers, the swiftness of Ellison’s move suggests that Skydance’s $8 billion acquisition of Paramount was part one of an ambitious strategy to take on the biggest of Big Media.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for swiftness
Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 21 Jan. 2026
Despite the fact that his name had been the most often mentioned as a potential Alonso replacement since December, the swiftness of his rise comes as a surprise.
—Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Another distinctive characteristic of the Mormon Wives rollout is the swiftness in which new seasons drop.
—Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025
In the eyes of many observers, the swiftness of Ellison’s move suggests that Skydance’s $8 billion acquisition of Paramount was part one of an ambitious strategy to take on the biggest of Big Media.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for swiftness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swiftness
Noun
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The questions continued when the Steelers rounded out their draft class with likely special teamers who have size (sixth-round, 6-5, 321-pound DT Gabriel Rubio) and speed (Oklahoma safety Robert Spears-Jennings ran the fastest 40 at the combine at his position) but need polish.—
Mike DeFabo,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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Cops believe speed played a factor in the crash.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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How the stars in a binary system orbit one another — their orbital period and velocity — depends on the masses of the two stars.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
28 Apr. 2026
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But Lamar’s velocity reflects his ambition.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swiftness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swiftness. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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