hasty

[ hey-stee ]

adjective

, hast·i·er, hast·i·est.

1. moving or acting with haste; speedy; quick; hurried.

   Synonyms: brisk, fleet, fast, rapid, swift

   Antonyms: slow

2. made or done with haste or speed:

   a hasty visit.

3. unduly quick; precipitate; rash:

   a hasty decision.

   Synonyms: headlong, reckless, foolhardy

   Antonyms: deliberate

4. brief; fleeting; passing; slight:

   a hasty glance.

5. impatient; impetuous; thoughtless; injudicious:

   hasty words.

6. easily irritated or angered; irascible:

   a hasty temper.

   Synonyms: irritable, excitable, fiery, touchy, testy

hasty

/ ˈheɪstɪ /

adjective

1. rapid; swift; quick
2. excessively or rashly quick
3. short-tempered
4. showing irritation or anger

   hasty words

Derived Forms

• ˈhastily, adverb
• ˈhastiness, noun

Other Words From

• hast·i·ly adverb
• hast·i·ness noun
• un·hast·y adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hasty¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Middle French hasti, hastif; haste, -ive

Example Sentences

Benjamin Franklin warned against making any hasty conclusions on such “a point of great importance.”

From The Daily Beast

But the thrill was already gone when Fox rushed out a hasty follow-up later that year, The Next Joe Millionaire.

From The Daily Beast

One of my greatest phobias is getting rocketed while showering or using the bathroom, so I keep those trips hasty.

From The Daily Beast

This course of action is what the Constitution envisions and also slows down the hasty rush to war.

From The Daily Beast

Haddad flew back immediately to find his city rising up, and is now beating a hasty retreat on the bus-fare increase.

From The Daily Beast

This is, of course, possible, but it cannot be more than speculation; the final Dunciad does show evidence of hasty revision.

From Project Gutenberg

And saying a hasty good afternoon, he popped through his doorway and vanished at Billy Woodchuck's feet.

From Project Gutenberg

Gilbert's "O shame, father," and Mrs. Rushmere's "God bless the dear child," following her hasty retreat.

From Project Gutenberg

Stunned by the reception they received, those who had not been killed or wounded beat a hasty retreat.

From Project Gutenberg

Sir Ralph, Mr. Findlay (who was helping us) and I, had our hasty lunch together.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• abrupt
• careless
• expeditious
• hurried
• ill-advised
• impulsive
• quick
• rapid
• reckless
• sudden
• swift
• urgent