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hasty

adjective
\ ˈhā-stē How to pronounce hasty (audio) \
hastier; hastiest

Definition of hasty

1a : done or made in a hurry hasty city-street snapshots— R. B. Heilman
b : fast and typically superficial made a hasty examination of the wound
c archaic : rapid in action or movement : speedy
2 : acting too quickly : overly eager or impatient realized he had been hasty in quitting his job
3 : exhibiting a lack of careful thought or consideration : precipitate, rash We don't want to make any hasty decisions.
4 : prone to anger : irritable a hasty temperment
Other Words from hasty Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about hasty

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Other Words from hasty

hastiness noun

Choose the Right Synonym for hasty

fast, rapid, swift, fleet, quick, speedy, hasty, expeditious mean moving, proceeding, or acting with celerity. fast and rapid are very close in meaning, but fast applies particularly to the thing that moves fast horses and rapid to the movement itself. rapid current 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 hasty in a Sentence

I made a hasty sketch of the scene. Seeing the dog, the cat made a hasty retreat up a tree. We don't want to make any hasty decisions. He later realized that he was too hasty in his decision to quit.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 An overly hasty downsizing of U.S. military, diplomatic and aid personnel could risk sacrificing some of the progress made in human rights and development, some experts warn — especially if no meaningful peace treaty is in place. — Los Angeles Times, "No deal yet with the Taliban, but Trump is planning big cuts in U.S. presence," 14 Aug. 2019 Some of the guardsmen say their training was hasty and limited. — Dallas News, "Mexico wrestles with its identity as the national guard helps Trump and LĂłpez Obrador crack down on migrants," 29 June 2019 But Democrats and victims’ advocates argued that the investigation, which concluded two days before its Friday deadline, was hasty and incomplete. — Kristina Peterson, WSJ, "GOP Confidence in Kavanaugh Confirmation Grows," 4 Oct. 2018 Westley in mid-July joined other scientists on a hasty trip to the Koyukuk River, a tributary of the Yukon River, where residents of the village of Huslia saw dead or disoriented chum salmon. — Dan Joling, Anchorage Daily News, "Alaska salmon deaths blamed on record high temperatures," 23 Aug. 2019 Season 4 begins by giving Sidney a hasty, unconvincing new romance—and, worse, does so via a self-serving use of the American civil-rights movement. — Sarah Larson, The New Yorker, "The Unholy Pleasures of “Grantchester,” The Original Hot-Priest Show," 18 Aug. 2019 Perhaps for the same reason, the treatment of Billy’s nascent sexuality, and especially that of his cross-dressing best friend, seems hasty and avoidant. — Jesse Green, New York Times, "Dancing Boys and a Bloodthirsty Plant Sidle Up to Shakespeare," 29 July 2019 An unexpected emotional incident will push you to make a hasty decision. — Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, "Horoscopes: Aug. 6, 2019," 6 Aug. 2019 The two were eager to downplay the idea that this was hasty. — Aaron Blake, The Seattle Times, "‘Something doesn’t smell right’: The curious timing of Nikki Haley’s exit from UN post," 9 Oct. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hasty.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of hasty

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1c

History and Etymology for hasty

see haste entry 1

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More Definitions for hasty

hasty

adjective
How to pronounce hasty (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of hasty

: done or made very quickly
: done or made too quickly
: acting too quickly

See the full definition for hasty in the English Language Learners Dictionary

hasty

adjective
\ ˈhā-stē How to pronounce hasty (audio) \
hastier; hastiest

Kids Definition of hasty

1 : done or made in a hurry a hasty trip
2 : made, done, or decided without proper care and thought a hasty decision

Other Words from hasty

hastily \ -​stə-​lē \ adverb

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